Brussels, 16/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission is expected to authorise the rescue plan foreseen by British authorities for putting the national rail plan back on track. The plan includes transformation of the Railtrack private company, which was placed under administration last year responsible for the management of the country's railway, into a public non-profit making company. In order to take this process to a successful conclusion, the British government hopes to give the company the loans and guarantees necessary for the emergence of the new company called Network Rail. Such financial measures amount to a total of EUR 37.6 billion. The Commission considers that the measures foreseen do not constitute State aid. The European Executive followed in this the advice of the British government whereby the British rail network is essentially a "natural monopoly" and that, in Europe, there is not a market developed for the management of rail infrastructures. The sector is therefore characterised by a lack of competition and possible consequent market distortions. We recall that Railtrack had been created in 1996 in the context of the privatisation programme set in place by John Major's Conservative government. The Labour government under Tony Blair had then voted for renationalisation of the network given the poor management of the company responsible for the rail network.