This week, our colleague Arthur Kamminga attended the Benelux Union workshop on cross-border rail which took place in Brussels.

He gave the 1st presentation, detailing how market regulation and lower track access charges are key to promote cross-border passenger rail between Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg (together Benelux) & neighbouring countries.

In particular, Arthur talked about this:

• What can the market deliver without Public Service Obligations? Why spend money on operations that could go other better things instead, such as maintaining & improving infrastructure?

• How growth can be facilitated by pro-active investments in the rail infrastructure

• How lower track access charges and fair capacity allocation are the key to success

The future is an open market with more rail offers from multiple operators.