Brussels, 17/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday the European Commission decided not to oppose the continuation for another three years of a joint venture between Maersk Intermodal BV and P&O Nedlloyd BV that provides scheduled rail transport services for the containers of both parent companies between deep sea ports and inland terminals. ERS was initially given authorisation for three years in 1998.
The Commission noted that the ERS network had been expanded from its original operations between the port of Rotterdam and inland terminals in Germany and Italy. The network now includes the ports of Bremerhaven and Hamburg as well as additional inland terminals in Germany and new points in Poland and Hungary. The Commission takes the view that, while ERS continues to have the potential to distort competition, there are countervailing benefits, notably that the expansion of the ERS network will further enhance competition in a market which, until relatively recently, has been almost the sole preserve of the state owned railways.