WRITTEN QUESTION E-4008/00

by Robert Goebbels (PSE) to the Commission

(21 December 2000)

Subject: Impact of the German Indusi provisional security systems on rail links with the Federal Republic

From 1 January 2001, the Federal Republic of Germany will be introducing the new safety system called Indusi on all trains circulating in the country. Praiseworthy as the measure being taken of course is, it is going to cause many problems for the neighbouring rail networks, who will not be able to use their rolling stock on German railway lines since they do not possess the new system.

The regional Metz to Sarrebrucken or Luxembourg to Trier rail links, like many other international rail links, will be affected by the Federal Transport Ministry's refusal to extend the current authorisations enjoyed by regional trains beyond 31 December 2000, until new rolling stock equipped with the Indusi system is available.

In view of the above, can the Commisssion answer following:

1. Does the attitude of the German authorities, the entirely understandable safety considerations which dictate it notwithstanding, not infringe the freedom of movement of persons and the provision of a cross-border public rail service?

2. Does the Commission not intend to urge the German authorities to grant other railway companies a transition period to allow them to carry out the adjustments needed to meet the new German safety rules?

3. Does the Indusi affair not demonstrate just how necessary it is to harmonise safety and other operating conditions within the internal market of the EU (and the applicant countries)?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(8 March 2001)

The railways of the Member States have all been developed as national systems with different standards concerning electrification, signalling, loading gauge and other basic parameters. The signalling and safety systems differ from network to network and obstruct the interoperability of locomotives and trainsets. Generally a locomotive used in cross-border services must be fitted with the equipment necessary to comply with the various train protection systems in use on the networks, which is the case with the Thalys and Eurostar trains operating between Belgium, Germany, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The safety requirements of the networks are laid down in national legislation and have to be applied in a non-discriminatory manner to all operators.

The present situation represents, however, a major obstacle to the development of an interoperable trans-European rail system and has been the subject of several initiatives of the Commission during the last years. Since 1990 the Community has stimulated, also financially, the development of a harmonised European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) that should remove one of the major technical obstacles to the circulation of trains across the borders. Council Directive 96/48/EC of 23 July 1996, on the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system(1) provides for the establishing of technical specifications for interoperability (TSI) of subsystems, e.g. control/command and signalling, of the high-speed system. ERTMS will be the future standard for the signalling system of the European high-speed rail system. A similar Directive on the interoperability of the conventional trans-European rail system(2) was proposed last year and is expected to be adopted early in 2001. In 2001 the Commission also intends to make a proposal on the harmonisation of safety regulations in the Member States.

Indusi is the train protection system which has been in use in Germany for many years. Generally it is a requirement under the relevant German legislation that locomotives running on the network be fitted with the Indusi equipment. The regional services referred by the Honourable Member are operated by the French and German railways, Société nationale des chemins de fer français (SNCF) and Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB). DB has since September 1996 been granted a temporary exemption from the German regulations, due to a delay in the adaptation of the French locomotives, which are normally equipped with KVB, the corresponding French safety system. To ensure a comparable safety level the railway operator has been obliged to provide an assistant to accompany the driver on the German lines. The question refers to the latest expiry of this exemption. According to information from the German Ministry of Transport the exemption was renewed on 30 November 2000 for a new two-year period, after which it is expected that the French locomotives will be equipped with Indusi.

The proposed Directive on conventional rail interoperability aims at harmonising the signalling and safety systems of the networks, thus making it unnecessary in the future to multiply safety equipment for traction units running across borders.

(1) OJ L 235, 17.9.1996.

(2) OJ C 89 E, 28.3.2000.