MEPs to vote on rail package

MEPs will vote next week on a package of legislation covering the liberalisation of railways, rail passengers’ rights and licensing for train staff.

The most controversial element of the second-reading vote is the thorny issue of market liberalisation. Parliament’s transport committee, which voted on amendments last month, accepted member states’ decision to postpone by two years to 2010 the deadline for opening up international passenger routes.

But the liberalisation of domestic passenger services remains a subject of fierce debate. The transport committee last month voted to unlock this market by 2017. Member states, including France, would prefer no deadline.

The right to impose levies on rail companies operating cross-border to raise money for companies with public service obligations is also controversial. It was tacked onto proposals by member states.

Elke Schänzler, of the Community of Railway and Infrastructure Companies expressed surprise that Parliament’s transport committee had backed the change. "We think it’s not useful. Either you have an open market or you don’t have an open market."

MEPs will vote next week on a package of legislation covering the liberalisation of railways, rail passengers’ rights and licensing for train staff.