WRITTEN QUESTION E-0252/03

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(5 February 2003)

Subject: Discontinuation of the Brussels-Milan overnight train service

At a time when Europe is enlarging eastwards and upgrading lines of communication would provide the public with the first sign of genuine proximity, Belgium is managing to discontinue the overnight couchette train service from Brussels to Milan, which also caters for vehicles. This service is run jointly with the French, German, Luxembourg and Swiss railways and is of vital importance to Italian workers in particular, who use this service in steady numbers. Should Belgium have been experiencing difficulties in continuing operations on its section of the line, it could have sought contacts with the governments of the countries rather than slashing the service. In view of this, can the Commission urgently reinstate the Brussels-Milan train service, thereby ensuring that the needs and expectations of Community citizens are met?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-0132/03 and E-0252/03given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(27 February 2003)

The Commission is aware that the Brussels-Milan train service was discontinued with effect from 15 December 2002. The Commission regrets the reduction in international services which may be decided upon by the railway undertakings concerned, although it recognises that they are entitled to seek to optimise their organisation, including by not losing money on this kind of service, as required by Article 5 of Directive 91/441(1).

According to the information supplied to the Commission, this service was not cost-effective for the five undertakings concerned.

The Commission would nevertheless like to point out that, if the main reason for discontinuing the service is financial, Regulation 1191/69(2) allows the competent national authorities of the Member States to conclude a public service contract with a railway undertaking to operate train services on routes which would not be cost-effective without financial support from the public authorities.

The Commission intends to present a proposal for a regulation in 2003 on the rights and obligations of passengers in international rail traffic which would, moreover, contain provisions concerning the consultation of passengers by railway undertakings in cases of major changes to the services offered. The Commission will also present a proposal for a directive to enable railway undertakings to become more competitive by facilitating access to the market in international passenger services. The many questions raised following the discontinuation of this train service and the announcement that many other international services will be discontinued will be taken into account when these legal instruments are drawn up, as discontinuing services will certainly not contribute to achieving one of the objectives of the common transport policy, which is to maintain and even increase the modal share of rail in transport as a whole.

(1) Council Directive 91/440/EEC of 29 July 1991 on the development of the Community's railways OJ L 237, 24.8.1991.

(2) Council Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 of 26 June 1969 on action by Member States concerning the obligation inherent in the concept of a public service in transport by rail, road and inland waterway OJ L 156, 28.6.1969.