Jointly organized by FSR Transport and the Florence Competition Programme in Law and Economics
Following the usual approach of the Florence School of Regulation, this Executive Seminar will bring together stakeholders and academics to discuss competition in the passenger railway market in Europe.
With the adoption of the 4th Railway Package Europe is moving closer to a more competitive railway system.
The European Commission has been driving the change towards a Single European Railway Area in which European railway companies should be able to compete on largely interoperable infrastructure. But liberalization and market opening are means to an end: the competitive pressure should make the system more efficient and thereby improve the railway business and modal share overall. However, the merits of competition can only play out in the sector if undesired effects are prevented by competent regulatory authorities. In the railway sector, more competitive pressure can improve efficiency, but there is also need for cooperation and coordination in areas such as investment, research, innovation and capacity planning. After all, in spite of underdeveloped competition within the railway sector, significant competition for the railways comes from other transport modes, namely road.
Tendering subsidised lines will become mandatory by 2024. Open access operators will be able to offer competing commercial services on domestic long-distance routes throughout the EU beginning December 2020. Both railway companies and competent authorities need to prepare for this. Open access competition is currently limited to a few lines and a small set of competitors. Competitive tendering for Public Service Obligation (PSO) lines has brought down costs for some lines but the necessary institutions are not yet in place everywhere. There is currently a patchwork of different national approaches and past experiences. Yet, given the national character of the railway system, regulation needs to account for different national situations avoiding the downsides of a one-size-fits-all approach. Against this background, the European Commission is determined to set a level playing field and to improve enforcement of antitrust, State aid and regulatory rules in the sector.
This Executive Seminar will bring together sector representatives, railway regulators, competition regulators, and academics to discuss the state of play and future of competition in the passenger railway market.
Discussions will be structured along three questions and a concluding session:
European Transport Regulation Observer
Introduction to Competition in Passenger Railways in Europe – MATTHIAS FINGER, Part-time Professor & Director of the Transport Area, Florence School of Regulation/EUI; and Professor, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Introduction to Competition in Passenger Railways in Europe – HENRIK MØRCH, DG COMP, European Commission
Challenges Ahead in a Competitive Market: How to Ensure Necessary Coordination – ERIC STAEBE, Deutsche Bahn AG
The Success Factors for Market Opening of Rail Services in France – PATRICIA PERENNES, FATMA RAHIL, SNCF
More Competition, More Coordination? – AIMÉE VERHULSDONCK, Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment Netherlands
UK Rail Passenger Services: Creating a Framework for Greater Competition – JOE QUILL, Office of Rail and Road UK
Competition in Passenger Railways in Europe – ALBERTO MAZZOLA, Ferrovie dello Stato
Introducing Competition in the Passenger Railway Sector: Open Access and Competitive PSO Tendering – CHRISTIAN JAAG, Swiss Economics
Competition in Passenger Railways in Europe – BARBORA MIČKOVÁ, LEO Express
Which Way Forward for Open Access Competition and Competitive PSO Tendering? – OLIVIER SALESSE, Rail and Road Regulatory Authority France
Good Theory and Practical Implementation – FRANCESCO LO PASSO, Brattle Group
Challenges in Opening Spanish Passenger Railways to Competition – PEDRO HINOJO, National Commission on Markets and Competition Spain
Competition Law in Railway Markets? A Swiss Perspective – MICHAEL SCHMIDT, SBB
Which way forward for competition in Passenger Railways in Europe? – GUNNAR ALEXANDERSSON, Stockholm School of Economics
Open Access Passenger Rail Competition in the Czech Republic – TOMÁŠ PALETA, Masaryk University
A big thank you to everyone discussing Railway Competition with us!@EU_Competition @Transport_EU #railways https://t.co/gQ1ummHmgz pic.twitter.com/5w3Z7y2Vso
— FSR Transport (@FSR_Transport) 19 giugno 2017
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