As Trilogue negotiations advance, ALLRAIL takes this opportunity to highlight key concerns regarding Commercial Conditions, a crucial element in shaping the future of the European rail market and the future Regulation on Rail Capacity Management.

The General Approach adopted by the Council one year ago diverges in several respects from the EU Commission’s original Capacity Management proposal, particularly in relation to the planning of works and Temporal Capacity Restrictions (TCRs), and the system of incentives intended to encourage all stakeholders, including Infrastructure Managers (IMs), to plan ahead and release capacity as early as possible. 

Establishing a coherent and proportionate framework for Commercial Conditions is essential to ensure an efficient use of railway infrastructure across the Union. The final Regulation must take into account the operational realities of all market participants and enshrine a fair and enforceable system of penalties and compensation.

A well-balanced legal framework will be instrumental in enhancing competition in the European rail market and in securing the efficient use of infrastructure, in line with the mandate of the SERA Directive.