Strasbourg, 11/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 11 December, the European Parliament strengthened measures to revitalise the railways by removing obstacles to the free circulation of trains throughout the European network. With adoption at first reading of the report by Josu Ortuondo Larrea (ALDE, Spain) concerning the draft directive on interoperability of Community railways, the European Parliament introduced automatic authorisation procedures and the principle of mutual recognition of rolling stock. The only amendment by the EP endorses the agreement reached with Council on 13 November this year on the Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI), as well as on the procedure for automatic authorisation. From now on, the Council only has to formally approve the compromise during one of its upcoming meetings.
Technical specifications. The draft directive (which is part of the three legislative proposals forming the “Community railway” package) specifies the conditions necessary for authorising the placing in service of railway vehicles that comply with TSI based on international standards and national rules, from throughout Europe. The compromise text breaks up the rail network into sub-systems: - infrastructures, control-command systems and signalling; - energy; - rolling stock; - traffic management and exploitation; - telematic applications and maintenance to the service of passengers and freight (information systems, reservations, luggage management, payment and invoicing or connections between trains). The text sets out the essential requirements and determines the technical specifications for each of these sub-systems (common standards of security, reliability, health and protection of the environment).
Principle of mutual recognition. Thus, in line with TSI, railway stock will be mutually recognised. Clear time limits and criteria are set for granting authorisation while, for any refusal, a substantial safety risk has to be demonstrated by the national safety authority. The draft directive also provides for cross-Community acceptance of rolling stock. Certificates of cross-Community acceptance will be issued on the basis of two separate criteria: whether the vehicle is conform or not to the TSI and whether it concerns a first or an additional authorisation for placing the vehicle on EU tracks. Certificates will be harmonised and authorisation procedures streamlined.
Automatic authorisation procedure. Introduced by the Council (EUROPE 9415), this provision allows a vehicle authorised on the network of one member state to automatically receive authorisation to circulate on the networks of the other member states, without any decision by a competent national safety authority within the prescribed time limits. The proposed compromise extends the time limit by three months and takes into account the EP's request for a clear time limit for the authorisation of these vehicles. The Council and EP both agreed that the European Railway Agency should establish a register allowing type-classification of vehicles allowed to circulate on the European railway network. Member states, for their part, will have to keep a register in which the fundamental characteristics of the infrastructure are specified.
Although this swift completion of work on the directive has generally been met with satisfaction among actors in the railway sector, the association of European Rail Infrastructure Managers (EIM) has raised an objection. In a press release published on Tuesday 11 December, the EIB states that the directive gives rise to fears regarding the way in which it will be implemented. This association calls for a role to be given to the infrastructure managers in the process of developing technical specifications for new vehicles. The EIB considers it necessary that the national authorities consult infrastructure managers (as has been done to date) as it is the latter who are the best placed to confirm whether the vehicle is suitable for safe operation on their networks. The EIM welcomes the agreement found but calls on the member states to include managers in the consultation process. (A.By.)