European shippers call for more rail competition

European shippers call for more rail competition    A European Commission proposal to establish a single European railway area, say increased competition could lead to “efficiency, reduce costs and prices, improve performance; this is the way for rail services to become more attractive to customers and create real customer modal choice,” said the European Shippers Council and the European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistic and Customs Service.
   The ESC and CLECAT, in a position paper released Monday, said the economic crisis and a slowing process of liberalization has reduced customer choice and competition, and that “service quality still remains the main weak point of rail freight transport. Nevertheless there is a growing demand to use rail freight and capture many of the environmental and inherent cost benefits that an efficient and well managed rail freight service could deliver.”
   Among the reforms the groups call for are:
   ‘ Support for establishing independent rail regulators “with the requisite skills, knowledge and authority to judge and take action against any unfair competition, anticompetitive practices, unfair allocation of slots and train paths.”
   ‘ “Open, fair and non-discriminatory access to freight terminals and marshalling yards at true market prices for all users.”
   ‘ “Fair and wise allocation of budgets towards the maintenance, repair and investment in new rail freight infrastructure.”
   ‘ Transparent terms and conditions in rail freight contracts.
   ‘ Infrastructure management companies that are independent of “rail undertakings,” the companies that actually move freight “so as not to create bias towards national operators or incumbent operators.”