The European Commission today published a report assessing the implementation of the Single European Railway Area Directive, taking an initial position on how its provisions have influenced the development of the European rail sector to date. The report addresses all areas governed by the Directive, with particular emphasis on the growth of high-speed services and the possible presence of discriminatory practices in relation to vertically integrated infrastructure managers and railway undertakings.
Directive 2012/34/EU - the Single European Railway Area Directive - is the foundation of the EU’s legal framework for the railway sector. It aims to create a unified European railway area by ensuring fair and non-discriminatory access to rail infrastructure and related services. (....)