Brussels, 08/09/2009 (Agence Europe) - Addressing the conference on rail safety organised in Brussels on Tuesday 8 September, Antonio Tajani, European Transport Commissioner, stressed the need for safety rules in the sector to be reviewed, including through harmonisation. According to Mr Tajani, the current level of safety could be strengthened by developing the role of the European Rail Agency (ERA) and setting up a more effective safety control system for rolling stock based not only on the age of the carriages but also on real wear and tear and distances covered. In addition to strengthening the role of the Agency, the Commission is studying the possibility of early adoption of the regulation on approval of entities responsible for railway maintenance, currently scheduled at the end of 2010, as well as a feasibility study for the setting in place of a computerised platform for the exchange of information in real time. In parallel to these priorities, which come in the aftermath of the rail accident in Viareggio on 29 June this year, the Commission's strategy will aim to ensure correct transposition of the European directive on rail safety (second rail package), as well as gradual harmonisation through the Agency of technical specifications, national rules and methods and objectives to be attained. A progress report on implementation of the directive was also adopted on Tuesday 8 September. The agency will hold its first meeting with all national stakeholders of the rail safety network on Wednesday 9 September. A task force involving those in the sector was also set up to develop short and long term measures in the field of safety. The first set of measures is foreseen for December, the second for July 2010.
Role of the Agency. No official proposal has yet been put forward, but Mr Tajani has suggested two measures: - that the agency have the power to attribute certification, as well as to participate in inquiries. He also gave his assurance when speaking at the same press conference given jointly with Italian Transport Minister Altero Matteoli and ERA Director General Marcel Verslype, that the concept of strengthening the agency is gaining increasing support from member states. In practical terms, ERA could acquire audit rights with national audit bodies and national security agencies set in place by the second rail package. It is also to be envisaged that mechanisms will be developed to allow the different national agencies and ERA to enjoy a better exchange of experience and information. Other work concerns improved transparency and knowledge of rules that govern access to the rail network and ways to make rail traffic circulate more easily.
Opening up of rail market does not hamper safety. On Tuesday, the Commission also adopted an assessment report on implementation of the directive on rail safety and the directive on the interoperability of the railways. Results are divided. As far as rail safety is concerned, the results of the fact-finding mission confirm that the Community railway system is safe and that the opening up to competition of rail freight does not have an impact on safety - on the contrary, it is thought that it raises the level of safety. Nonetheless, the cost and delays incurred by the lack of common procedures between member sates and the lack of knowledge if not the lack of transparency of the sector are still major barriers. Interoperability, the Commission states, can only be achieved if specific technological features of interoperability are adopted for all systems. Work is currently in progress within ERA and concrete measures are planned for 2010 (see EUROPE 9971). The Commission will also closely monitor the setting in place of public registers on infrastructure and rolling stock as set out in the directive on the interoperability of Community railways.
CER favours Community approach. The Community of European Railways and infrastructure companies (CER) has supported the Commission's approach, calling for greater harmonisation of the sector at European level. “It is absolutely necessary to follow a European approach towards safety and to discourage individual initiatives aiming to introduce more severe rules on axles maintenance and checks in some member states only”, Libor Lochman, Deputy Executive Director of the CER, states in a press release. He goes on to stress that a fragmented sector would be detrimental to the rail freight industry due to the additional costs that this involves. According to this organisation, the Commission and the agency should continue to promote the overall maintenance quality of rail freight axles and wheel sets in Europe. (A.By./transl.jl)