Railway: new legislation to get the sector back on track
New rules to help EU countries open up their rail transport markets and improve their competitiveness are debated by MEPs on Monday evening and voted on Wednesday. The new legislation should help to make travelling by rail cheaper and more attractive.
MEPs are set to debate and vote on a series of measures to improve rail travel in the EU as part of the 4th railway package set to facilitate access for trains and railway companies in all EU countries. This will be achieved through administrative and technical measures to allow easier access for all rolling stock to the national rail networks as well as through measures such as making it easier for companies to compete for public service contracts.
MEPs believe that these measures will lead to more investment in the railway sector, improve service quality and result in lower prices for passengers. Trains are an environmentally friendly means of transportation and boosting rail transport would help to decrease emissions across Europe.