The Committee of the Regions criticises the Commission proposal to limit the duration of contracts with private operators to five years.
Operators have to invest lots of money before getting any profit.
If the Commission limits the duration of contracts to five years, no operator will want to make long-term plans. To those who fear that granting licences over a longer period ties the regional or local authority hand and foot to the operator, Herman Suykerbuyk replies that it is always possible to include very strict clauses allowing cancellation of a contract if the operator is inadequate. The Committee of the Regions therefore thinks the maximum duration of contracts should be based on the average period of depreciation of the equipment used. It also maintains that in the event of repeated train delays travellers must be entitled to refunds.