WRITTEN QUESTION E-0520/02

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 February 2002)

Subject: Promoting international rail transport by facilitating the purchase of tickets to foreign destinations

1. Why it is not possible throughout the opening hours of station ticket offices to purchase directly train tickets from and to destinations in foreign countries, and even from foreign localities via one's own country to another country, as one already can from Deutsche Bahn, for example for travel between Sweden and France or between the Netherlands and Eastern Europe?

2. Is it acceptable that railway companies providing passenger services should regress to a position of providing purely national services, thus increasingly surrendering the field of international transport to bus companies and airlines, or is the Commission inter alia in connection with the white paper pursuing measures to combat such a development?

3. Will the Commission seek to ensure that railway tickets, at least to all popular destinations up to 200 km beyond the national border, major foreign interchange stations and cities within Europe, are widely available in all Member States, with the possible exception of Ireland, Finland and Greece, which do not have any international rail links with other EU Member States?

4. Would it be possible to encourage the provision of high-quality international rail passenger services by periodically publishing comparative surveys and/or awarding an annual prize to the railway company which provides the best international service to customers?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-0518/02 and E-0520/02given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(18 April 2002)

The Dutch authorities and Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) Reizigers have concluded a public service contract (prestatie contract) for the main railway network, which contain the requirements and the performance indicators for the provision of rail services on this network. The Commission considers that the implementation of this contract is the responsibility of the contract partners, and that it can not intervene, unless the Commission has reasons to assume that the provisions of the prestatie contract are not compatible with Community provisions. The questions raised however, do not lead the Commission to think this is the case. The Dutch authorities do have the possibility to co-operate with the authorities in other Member States to set-up and finance cross-border railservices. The public service contracts to be concluded with the railway undertakings could include provisions on the availability of tickets and/or opening hours of ticket sale points.

The Commission recently ordered a study on Developing EU (international) Rail Passenger Transport(1), which provided an assessment of the actual and potential market for international rail passenger services. It gave a comprehensive view of the current state of affairs, problems and challenges in relation to the improvement of international rail services for passengers. It gave e.g. examples of the problems in relation to the availability of information on international passenger services and the possibility to make reservations for these services. It also highlighted the shortcomings in relation to ticket integration and reimbursement of unused tickets. These figures clearly show that the market for international rail services is growing, though the OGM report clearly identified areas for improvement. A copy of this study is sent separately to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.

In its White Paper on Transport Policy(2) as well in Communication Towards an integrated European Railway Area(3), the Commission proposed that the railway undertakings develop an initiative to increase on a voluntary basis- the quality of their services. The Commission also intends to table a proposal on passenger rights and obligations for international rail transport by the end of 2002, which would include provisions on fair terms and conditions of contracts and their transparency; consumer consultation; complaint handling and out-of-court dispute settlement, as well as compensation and assistance for delays, cancellations, missed connections and seat reservations not being honoured. It will also address improved availability of information in electronic form on fares, tickets, timetables and services.

The Commission has started to develop a scheme for the monitoring of the main developments on the rail markets, which also includes the passenger markets. This monitoring scheme, set up further to Article 10b of the amended Council Directive 91/440/EEC(4), will include indicators on transport volumes as well as quality indicators, such as indicators on delayed passenger trains.

(1) Developing EU (International) Rail Passenger Transport: Assessment of the actual and potential market for international rail passenger services, carried out by OGM, February 2002.

(2) COM(2001) 370 final.

(3) COM(2002) 18 final.

(4) Directive 91/440/EEC of 29 July 1991 on the development of the Community's railways, OJ L 237, 27.8.1991, as amended by Directive 2001/12 of 26 February 2001, OJ L 75, 15.3.2001.