18/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - Rail sector cries foul over competition distortion between transport modes. On Tuesday 15 February, the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) criticised the agreement on the rights of bus and coach passengers (see EUROPE 10316). CER feels that this agreement does not guarantee necessary rights for bus and coach passengers. It says, too, that the legislation “clearly violates” the principle of a level competition playing field between transport modes. CER claims that the scope of the existing passenger rights regulations in other sectors (aviation, the rail sector and the maritime sector) is much broader and more demanding of operators. It complains also that the legislation adopted leaves for a sharp difference in the conditions for providing compensation and assistance in the event of delays. Bus and coach passengers will be entitled to compensation and assistance only when their journey is at least two hours delayed at departure, whereas passengers travelling by rail have the right to assistance and compensation when their train arrives one hour later than planned. (A.By./transl.rt)