WRITTEN QUESTION E-0518/02

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 February 2002)

Subject: Discouragement of the use of international rail transport from the Netherlands due to the limited availability of tickets to foreign destinations

1. Is the Commission aware that, from the computers at railway-station ticket offices in some Member States, it is possible to obtain immediately tickets for a wide range of places of departure and destinations abroad, whereas in other Member States they can only be obtained by ordering them in advance and having them sent by post, or bought at special international counters at a few large stations which are open for only a limited number of hours per day (for example from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays)?

2. Is the Commission aware that Netherlands Railways, which has already previously stopped selling tickets to relatively distant major cities and restricted the availability of tickets and reservations for all overland journeys exceeding 200 km to the largest cities, border stations and the airport (27 stations out of a total of 410), is now considering restricting such sales still further by cutting the number of stations to a mere 10?

3. Does the Commission welcome the fact that, because of the limits on availability and opening times, train passengers who start their journeys in the Netherlands are now in many cases compelled to buy their tickets to more remote foreign destinations including Berlin, Paris and Strasbourg during a break in their journey in Hamburg, Hanover, Cologne or Brussels?

4. Does the Commission know of any other EU Member States which have rail links with other Member States and where the availability of train tickets to foreign destinations is as limited as it is in the Netherlands?

5. Will the Commission inform the Netherlands Government which wholly owns Netherlands Railways of its adverse findings?

Source: De Volkskrant newspaper, 2 February 2002

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.