WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2949/97 by Florus WIJSENBEEK to the Commission. Rail infrastructure
Date: 1997-09-17
Institutions: European Parliament, WIJSENBEEK
Subjects: axle weight, common transport policy, harmonisation of standards, high-speed transport, rail transport, technical regulations, technical standard, trans-European network, transport infrastructure, weight and size

C 117/110

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

16. 4. 98

the tasks of the centre of information, reflection and exchange on asylum (CIREA). This working group of the
Council prepares joint reports on the assessment of the situations in third countries based on contributions of the
Member  States (3).  CIREA  also  normally  invites  representative  of  the  UNHCR  to  participate  in  those
assessments. The Commission takes full part in all CIREA deliberations.

(1) 

Joint position of 4 March 1996 defined by the Council on the basis of Article K.3 of the EC Treaty on the harmonized application of the
definition  of  the  term  (cid:146)refugee(cid:146)  in  Article  1  of  the  Geneva  convention  of  28  July  1951  relating  to  the  status  of  refugees
(OJ L 63/2, 13.3.1996).

(2)  OJ C 319/1, 26.10.1996.
(3)  See the second report on the activities of CIREA in OJ C 274, 19.9.1996.

(98/C 117/140)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2949/97

by Florus Wijsenbeek (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 September 1997)

Subject: Rail infrastructure

Is  the  Commission  aware  that  major  differences  in  maximum  axle  load  exist  for  different  national  rail
infrastructures?

Will  the  Commission  make  proposals,  in  connection  with  the  proposal  on  freight  freeways  and  with  the
Trans-European Networks, to harmonize maximum axle loads and loading-gauges, so to eliminate this technical
obstacle to European rail transport?

If so, what maximum axle load and what loading-gauge does the Commission envisage?

If not, why does the Commission not believe that there is any need for harmonization?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(4 November 1997)

The  Commission  is  aware  of  the  variety  of  national  rail  infrastructures  throughout  the  Community,  which
include differences in maximum axle loads and loading gauges. These differences result from the development
of separate national networks over many years.

The Commission supports interoperability of national networks and took a first step towards that in presenting its
proposal for a directive on the interoperability of the high speed train (HST) network (1) which was adopted by
the Council on 23 July 1996. In addition, in order to find the best ways of improving the competitiveness of
international freight and passenger services (other than the high speed links) the Commission has launched a
study on interoperability covering a number of questions including gauges, and plans to make proposals in late
1998 on cost-efficient measures to help integrate the conventional national networks.

(1)  Directive 96/48/EC › OJ L 235, 17.9.1996.

(98/C 117/141)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2950/97

by Florus Wijsenbeek (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 September 1997)

Subject: European Train Control System (ETCS)

Is the Commission aware that different safety and traffic control systems exist for rail transport in the various
Member States?

Is the Commission aware that a proposal has been made for a European Train Control System (ETCS), for which
operational specifications would have to be drawn up?