3 marca 2024 roku, po 531 (!) dniach procedowania, Prezes Urzędu Transportu Kolejowego wydał decyzję otwartodostępową jednemu z niezależnych operatorów dla połączeń na trasie Kraków Główny – Gdynia Główna i z powrotem przez Warszawę. Sam ten fakt nie byłby niczym nadzwyczajnym, gdyby nie zakres wnioskowanych usług oraz decyzja regulatora zakres ten ograniczająca.

On 3 March 2024, after 531 (!) days of proceedings, the Polish rail regulator UTK only approved a minor portion of independent operator RegioJet’s application to operate commercial passenger services on the Kraków–Gdynia route, and confined mostly to off-peak hours.

UTK's decision to approve state incumbent's application while imposing severe limitations on that of the independent operator showcases a troubling instance of double standards and protectionism.

DSB's rapporterede "overskud" er dog faktisk en falsk profitmargin, som er 'tjent' fra en landsdækkende offentlig servicetrafik ('PSO')-kontrakt, der blev direkte tildelt af den danske regering uden fordelene ved en konkurrenceudsættelse i udbud (hvilket ville have opnået lavere omkostninger for skatteyderne og højere kvalitet for passagererne).

DSB’s reported “profits” are in fact a fake profit margin that is 'earned' from a countrywide Public Service Obligation ('PSO') contract that was directly awarded by the Danish government without the benefits of a competitive tender (which would have achieved a lower cost for taxpayers and higher quality for passengers).

On Thursday, March 7, at 11:15 a.m., the gloves will come off and proponents and opponents of market forces in rail will discuss all the possibilities and impossibilities, challenges, wishes and legislation. Secretary General of ALLRAIL, will probably point out that the Netherlands has been on thin ice with the private awarding of the main rail network concession to NS for the years 2025-2033.