EU agrees on rules to improve management and use of rail infrastructure

Council and Parliament negotiators reached today a provisional agreement to harmonise, simplify and rationalise the management of the available capacity for trains on the EU’s rail network, both within and across member states. This new approach will allow for more frequent and reliable passenger and freight rail services.

To improve the capacity planning of trains on the EU’s rail network, today’s agreement updates the EU-wide framework for capacity management. Taking into account the digitalisation of rail operations, it includes general rules for capacity management during the planning, scheduling, allocation and rescheduling of slots on the EU’s rail network. The new rules will introduce a longer-term planning of train services beyond the annual working timetable while also making it easier to plan additional train services at short notice.

Today, the capacity of passenger and freight train traffic is managed by national infrastructure managers on an annual basis. This is a complex task, as both passenger and freight trains share the same tracks, but travel for example at different speeds and have different stopping patterns.

While cross border rail traffic is on the rise, the scheduling of international rail services can be challenging, as each of the infrastructure manager allocates rail capacity based on their own national framework and timetable design.

ENIM’s key role

While national infrastructure managers will remain in the lead of the coordination and planning processes, so that each member state can ensure that the planning and use of their rail capacity is consistent with their objectives and policy decisions, the European Network of Infrastructure Managers (ENIM) will play a key role, developing three frameworks.

• First, ENIM will be tasked with the development of a European framework for capacity management. The framework will include guidelines and criteria for the different aspects and steps for the long-term planning of capacity and the allocation of train services. It will serve as a guide for each of the national infrastructure managers.
• Secondly, ENIM will also develop a European framework for the coordination of cross-border traffic management, disruption management and crisis management, used by infrastructure managers to manage changes to the allocated capacity rights.
• Thirdly, ENIM will develop a European framework for performance review that will allow to monitor the developments in rail transport.

An approach tailored to each rail network

The provisional agreement allows member states to provide strategic guidance to factor in the unique circumstances of each of their rail networks. However, they must coordinate with one another and ensure consistency between their priorities, especially with neighbouring member states.

The guidance will also help set the social, economic, operational, and environmental criteria used to manage situations where too many requests are made for the same part of the network during planning and conflict resolution.

Next steps

This provisional agreement will now need to be confirmed by the member states’ representatives within the Council (Coreper) and by the European Parliament. It will then be formally adopted by both institutions.

Background

The sustainable and smart mobility strategy (SSMS) outlines the EU’s roadmap towards a more sustainable, smart, and resilient transport system. One of its key objectives is to increase rail freight traffic by 50% by 2030 and to double it by 2050. To reach these goals, rail transport must become more affordable, reliable, and accessible, with services that better meet the needs of both passengers and freight operators.

More information: European Parliament