COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 10 06 1996 
COM(%) 249 final 
94/0112 (SYN) 
Re-examined proposal for a 
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 
on the Interoperability of the 
trans-European high-speed railway system 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 c (d) 
of the EC Treaty) 

A. EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
On 8 December 1995, the Council unanimously adopted a common position [(EC) 
No 36/95 (1)] on the adoption of a Council Directive on the interoperability of the 
trans-European high-speed railway system. This Directive is based on the Com­
mission proposal [COM(94)0107 of 15 April 1994(2)], as modified, following first 
reading by the European Parliament, by the amended proposal [COM(95)0271 of 
15 June 1995(3)]. 
At its plenary session of 15 - 19 April 1996, the European Parliament adopted, on 
second reading, eight amendments to the text of the Council's common position, 
numbered 1 to 4 and 9 to 12. 
Amendment No 1 adds to the first recital, stressing, in line with Article 129b of the 
Treaty, the aim of the interoperability of the entire European rail network. The 
Commission approved this amendment, as progressive convergence toward the 
interoperability of the European rail network as a whole will further the develop­
ment of the railway sector. 
Amendment No 2 adds to the third recital, opening up a global vision of the rail 
transport network schemes and indicating that, in future, proposals for the inter­
operability of the conventional rail network will be submitted by the Commission. 
The Commission approved this amendment, while making the requisite editing 
alterations, as it accords with the aims it set out in the explanatory memoran­
dum to its "proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision on Com­
munity guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network" 
[COM(94)0106 of 7 April 1994 W]. 
Amendment No 3 modifies the fifth recital, specifying that, beyond passenger 
transport, ways and means need gradually to be found for the network to carry ra­
pid goods services. The Commission approved this amendment, especially as the 
whole area of the high-speed transportation of rapid services or urgent or pe­
rishable goods is under study in a number of Member States. 
<1) OJ No C 356 of 30.12.1995, p. 43. 
(2) OJ No C 134 of 17.05.1994, p. 6. 
(3) OJ No C 203 of 08.08.1995, p. 13. 
W OJ No C 220 of 08.08.1994, p. 1. 
-2 
Amendment No 4 adds to the fifth recital, specifying that access to the European 
high-speed train network must be rendered easier. The Commission approved 
this amendment as it accords with its vision of a "citizens' network". It is also in 
line with the opinion delivered by the Economic and Social Committee, which was 
approved on 23 November 1994 [ESC 1297/94 (5)]. 
Amendments No's 9 and 12 relate to Article 7, which deals with derogations from 
the Directive. They propose, in view of the major economic considerations invol­
ved, the application of one and the same vetting procedure for all four derogations 
allowed under this Article. The Commission approved these amendments, while 
making the requisite editing alterations, as it sees them as recognition of the fact 
that all the derogations under this Article relate to economic considerations. 
Amendment No 10 overhauls Article 21. It replaces the advisory committee pro­
cedure contained in the Council's common position by the consultative committee 
procedure advocated by the Commission in its original proposal. The Commis­
sion approved this amendment, while making the requisite editing alterations, as it 
makes for a simpler and faster procedure. 
Amendment No 11 adds an essential requirement to Annex III aimed at the con­
sumer protection. The Commission approved this amendment, as it sees inter­
operability of the trans-European high-speed rail system as an urgent necessity, 
not just for technical reasons but also to meet the needs of citizens. 
« OJ No C 3*7 of 31.12.1994, p. 8. 
• 3-
B. RE-EXAMINED PROPOSAL 
/. Preamble 
1. The following recital is added following the first recital : 
"Whereas, with a view to making a people's Europe a reality, this Di­
rective represents the first step towards the interoperability of the entire 
European railway network ;" 
2. The following recital is added following the third recital : 
"Whereas in April 1994 the Commission submitted a proposal for a 
European Parliament and Council Decision on Community guidelines 
for the development of the trans-European transport network (6), which 
also includes network schemes for the conventional railway network ; 
whereas, therefore, once this decision enters into force, the Commis­
sion retains the option of submitting proposals for the interoperability 
of the conventional rail network, in particular with a view to removing 
obstacles to trans-frontier local and regional traffic ;" 
3. The fifth recital is replaced by the following : 
"Whereas the commercial operation of high-speed trains requires ex­
cellent compatibility between the characteristics of the infrastructure 
and those of the rolling stock ; whereas performance levels, safety, 
quality of service and cost depend upon such compatibility as does, in 
particular, the interoperability of the European high-speed rail system ; 
whereas, although the high-speed network is designed primarily for 
passengers, the intention is that ways and means should gradually be 
found of enabling the network to carry rapid goods services ; 
Whereas passengers must have easy access to the whole European 
high-speed railway network ; whereas, therefore, the interoperability of 
the ticketing, reservation and information systems of the European 
high-speed railway network must also be guaranteed ;" 
<6> COM(94)0106 of 07.04.1994 (OJ No C 220 of 08.08.1994, p. 1.) 
-4-
//. The text proper 
1. The text of the introductory part to Article 7, and paragraphs (a), (b) 
and (c) thereof remain unchanged. 
2. The text of paragraph (d) of Article 7 is replaced by the following : 
"(d) in the case of a project for upgrading an existing line for 
high-speed, where application of these TSIs compromises 
the economic viability of the project. 
The Member State concerned shall notify its intended de­
rogation to the Commission in advance and shall forward to 
it a file setting out the technical specifications or parts of 
specifications for interoperability which it wishes not to 
apply." 
3. The following paragraph 2 is added to Article 7 : 
"2. In the cases referred to under (a) to (d) the Commission shali exa­
mine whether the measures envisaged by the Member State are 
justified and shall take a decision in accordance with the proce­
dure in Article 21 (2)." 
4. The text of Article 21 is replaced by the following : 
"1. The Commission shall be assisted by an advisory committee for 
rail transport, composed of the representatives of the Member 
States and chaired by the representative of the Commission. 
2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the standing 
committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The committee 
shall deliver its opinion on the draft - if necessary, by taking a 
vote - within a time limit which the chairman may lay down accor­
ding to the urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be recorded 
in the minutes; in addition, any Member State may request that its 
position be recorded in the minutes. 
The Commission shall take account of the committee's opinion as 
far as possible. It shall inform the committee how it has taken ac­
count of its opinion. 
-S~ 
3. The committee may discuss any matter concerning the interopera­
bility of the European high-speed rail system. 
4. Should it prove necessary, the committee may set up working par­
ties to aid it in carrying out its tasks, in particular with a view to 
contributing to the coordination of the notified bodies." 
///. Annexes 
The text of Annex III is supplemented, after § 2.7.3., by the following text : 
"2.8. Users 
2.8.1. Consumer protection 
Information and offers concerning services must be transparent and 
guaranteed throughout the European high-speed rail network." 
-6-
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(96) 249 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 07 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-96-257-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-04827-5 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg 
*}