Brussels, 09/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - European Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas did not mince his words with the rail sector when he spoke at the European Rail Award ceremony organised by the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) and the European Rail Industry (UNIFE) on Wednesday 8 February. “In many areas, we have allowed ourselves to languish in the 19th century and in short, rail deserves better. European citizens also deserve better”, he said in a last warning to the rail sector to reform. Highlighting the fragmentation of the rail market, the lack of liberalisation and also problems with punctuality, efficiency and reliability, the commissioner spelt it out for the sector how to move forward so that railways can achieve “their full growth potential, especially for freight and passenger traffic over medium to long distances”. Kallas and the Commission are currently preparing the 4th rail package, which will be brought forward during the course of this year. The proposals in the package “will provide more stimulus for creating the single rail area and for some much-needed changes to the EU rail sector”. Though nothing has yet been decided, he stressed, he still intends to push for fully opening up rail markets, services and infrastructure. “Only a few EU countries have so far opened up to competition. Market access conditions are generally still skewed in favour of the incumbents”, he lamented, not mincing his words. He upped the ante, complaining that “some major technical barriers make it difficult to produce and certify trains to run them across EU internal borders”. UNIFE Director General Philippe Citroën called for the European Rail Agency to be allowed to play a greater role in resolving authorisation problems. (MD/transl.rt)