Ministerial declaration
ROTTERDAM DECLARATION Cross border
passenger railway services
TEN-T conference, Rotterdam, 21st June 2016
Political declaration of the responsible ministers of Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg
and the Netherlands, June 21th, 2016.
Preamble
This declaration focuses on cross border passenger railway services between Belgium,
Germany, Luxembourg and The Netherlands.
Considering…
…the importance of cross border/international passenger rail connections and services,
because:

the cities and regions of Belgium, (Northwestern) Germany, Luxembourg and
the Netherlands are economically interwoven;

mobility and easy travel in the EU is a crucial condition for social and
economic growth and the role of railways for an integrated transport system
is important;

travelling by rail is a sustainable travel mode.
…that we have well developed and dense railway networks in Europe in general and in
our countries in particular, and a strong railway sector with a lot of potential:

Due to its density and quality, the European railway network is unique in the
world;

It is intensely used, both for passenger rail and freight transport;

Most of the intra-European distances are suitable for rail transport;

Commuting over short distances by train is a daily activity for many European
citizens.
…that European transport policy has already developed a considerable legal framework
to enhance international rail transport and the interoperability of train services in
Europe:

Through the various Railway Packages the EU is working towards a Single
European Railway Area (SERA);

The EU framework provides for open access for international rail passenger
services whereas Member States may contract additional services by way of
PSO contracts;

Actions described in this declaration build upon this EU legal framework.

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…that the potential of growth possibilities for cross border passenger rail transport in
our countries is however still underused:

The market share of domestic rail passenger transport is in many cases far
larger for cross-border traffic, even where there are rail connections in
operation;

The growth of cross-border passenger rail transport significantly lags behind
the overall growth of international mobility (despite the fact that cross-border
social economic activities are growing).
…important reasons for the current suboptimal level of cross border passenger rail
services are the lack of interoperability and suboptimal travel information, although
progress is being made (such as through standardization e.g. TSI TAP, TSI PRM and
the ERTMS program). Examples for the current constraints for international
passengers are:

Timetables and ticket systems are still often applied in (national) isolated
form and innovation on apps and online ticketing lag behind compared to for
example the aviation sector;

Travel information (both timetable data and real time train running
information) and ticketing services are sometimes suboptimal for cross border
trips;

The standardized approach for exchange of data, as described in the TSI TAP,
is not yet implemented.
Acknowledging...
…that there is an urgent need to enhance international rail passenger services and to
complete the Single European Railway Area (SERA), among others by implementing:

The 4th Railway Package, as regards further opening the passenger rail
markets, technical harmonisation and improving passenger services;

ERTMS/ ETCS for facilitating interoperable cross-border operations of trains,
in line with the upcoming revised European Development Plan.
…thereby acknowledging that within the EU framework the passenger rail transport in
our countries is organized differently, from liberalized open markets to awarded public
service contracts at national or regional level. Organisation of cross border rail
passenger transport must be adapted to this context. This is notwithstanding the
competences of the relevant responsible authorities.

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Statement
The ministers of Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg
responsibility for Mobility and/or Transport:

and

the

Netherlands

with

1. See the future of cross border passenger rail as a high quality integrated system
including ticketing and passenger information with the objective that international
passengers should experience a borderless journey from these perspectives.
2. Are motivated to improve and promote the use of the existing rail connections and
will strive for a more integrated rail passenger services system for domestic and
cross border services.
3. Are willing to work together with the responsible authorities, railway undertakings
and where appropriate infrastructure managers by taking significant steps to
enhance the quality of services offered to passengers such as international travel
information and facilitation and increased availability of international tickets for
international rail passengers.
4. Are convinced that the improvement of cross border passenger rail services is only
reached by putting the passenger in a central position and by making a better
connection between the different national systems in place.
5. Take note that the Netherlands will set up a cooperation platform with all the
competent (national and/or regional) authorities responsible for cross border rail
services in the Benelux-Germany region in 2016 - 2018 period on developing
effective cooperation and common methods in the advantage of the passengers,
taking into account existing institutional frameworks. When appropriate, the
platform will invite railway undertakings and infrastructure managers to
participate. The platform should inform on its results by 2018.
Such platform may consider to study:

The market potential of cross border passenger rail transport;

The opportunities and constraints regarding cross border passenger rail
transport;

The possibilities to overcome barriers for appropriate connections and
services;

The practical actions that could be carried out to enhance international
passenger rail transport.
6. Call for action:

Address the rail sector to take joint action on supporting innovation on
(linking) passenger information and booking platforms and further technical
harmonisation in the cross border passenger railway sector which improves
rail service;

Acknowledging and welcoming the considerations and initiatives on which the
responsible authorities have already taken the first steps:

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 The German Land of Nordrhein-Westfalen and the Dutch provinces of
Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Overijssel and Gelderland are considering
projects to strengthen cross border passenger rail connections and
services (a position paper is being drafted);
 The German Land of Niedersachsen and the Dutch provinces of
Groningen, Friesland, Drenthe and Overijssel are considering projects to
strengthen cross border passenger rail connections and services (a
position paper is being drafted);
 Belgium and The Netherlands agree on strengthening cross border
passenger rail connections and services (a bilateral agreement will be
signed);
 The German Laender of Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland have successfully
cooperated on working on a cross border mobility concept with
Luxembourg;
 Luxembourg took the initiative to set up a cross border mobility concept
with the Walloon Region in Belgium.
7. Follow up:
The ministers;

Are intending to come together again to share the results of the agreed
actions;

Invite the European Commission to work with all parties to overcome
bottlenecks for cross border passenger rail transport and to check whether
this model of cooperation can be used on European level.

Mr. Norbert Barthle

Mr. Francois Bellot

Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal
Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure

Minister of Mobility, in charge of

Mr. Francois Bausch

Mrs. Sharon Dijksma

Minister for Sustainable Development

State Secretary for Infrastructure
and the Environment
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Belgocontrol and the National
Railway Company of Belgium