The European Commission informed České dráhy(ČD) and Österreichische Bundesbahnen(ÖBB), the Czech and Austrian incumbent rail operators, on Friday 10 June of its preliminary finding that they have infringed EU rules on anti-competitive practices by colluding on the market for used passenger wagons with the aim of distorting competition in the rail passenger transport market.
As a preliminary matter, the Commission found that between 2012 and 2016, ČD and ÖBB engaged in a collective boycott aimed at maintaining their market position and hindering RegioJet’s expansion both in the Czech Republic and on the Prague-Vienna international railway line. A collective boycott occurs when a group of competitors agree to exclude an actual or potential competitor from the market or hinder the competitor’s access to the market.
ČD and ÖBB agreed to hinder RegioJet’s access toÖBB’s used wagons for long-distance passenger transport. In order to prevent RegioJet from acquiring these wagons, ČD and ÖBB coordinated their actions to boycott RegioJet in connection with the sale of ÖBB’s used wagons. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)