Luxembourg, 02/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 2 October, the Transport Council adopted a general orientation on the draft directive on interoperability of Community railways. This maintains the position of last June and amends two points in the Commission proposal. Firstly, ministers expanded the field of the directive's application to vehicles already in service (provisions on the subject were contained in the directive on safety of Community railways and presented at the same time by the Commission). Secondly, the Council introduces the principle of mutual recognition of vehicles. Once a member state has authorised a certain kind of vehicle on its territory, this type of vehicle will automatically be authorised in all other member states. The Council decision confirms its position presented in the progress report adopted on this subject last June (EUROPE 9372). (aby)