In her draft report on the use of rail infrastructure capacity, published on Friday 17 November, MEP Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA, Luxembourg) proposes the creation of a European body to allocate international rail capacity.
Presented in July by the European Commission (see EUROPE 13220/21) as part of the legislative ‘package’ designed to speed up the greening of freight, this new regulation aims to change the way rail is managed and improve cross-border coordination.
In the explanatory memorandum, the MEP explains that the creation of a ‘European Rail International Capacity Allocation body’ (ERICA) is intended to ensure the inclusion of multimodal solutions, re-routing between several countries and the facilitation of multi-network applications over long distances.
The rapporteur also suggests readjusting the position of the European Network of Infrastructure Managers (ENIM) by obliging it to set up and consult the ‘European Operational Stakeholder Platform’ (EOSP), which would also include other stakeholders.
In addition, Ms Metz contests the measure whereby the Commission requires ENIM to establish its own objectives, processes and controls. She suggested transferring the ENIM’s performance review to the ‘European Network of Rail Regulatory Bodies’ (ENRRB).
The Green MEP also introduces consultative bodies within the ENIM that would bring together operational stakeholders, other applicants, service facilities, terminals and other stakeholders who mutually benefit from their early and ongoing involvement in the development and allocation of capacity.
As far as the timetable is concerned, the rapporteur is “more ambitious” than the Commission. Given that the industry has already started to implement some of the planning processes as part of the ‘Timetable Redesign Project’ (TTR), she believes it is possible to start implementing the regulation from 2026, rather than 2029.
According to her, “many infrastructure managers have already begun the strategic planning process as part of the TTR project and are ready for implementation, requiring only a legal basis”.
Finally, the report provides for appropriate secondary legislation, ensuring that references to implementing acts and delegated acts are correct. The criteria and standardised methods for calculating and applying socio-economic and environmental criteria would, for example, be defined in delegated acts. This will ensure a standardised methodology and criteria across the EU, in particular to enable cross-border solutions.
The rapporteur points out that this does not call into question the possibility for Member States to adapt the weighting of criteria locally, if local circumstances so require for political or economic reasons.
To read the draft report: https://aeur.eu/f/9my (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)