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Use of railway infrastructure capacity in the single European railway area, amending Directive 2012/34/EU and repealing Regulation (EU) No 913/2010

TA-9-2024-0127 · P9_TA(2024)0127 · PE752.954

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Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation on using railway infrastructure capacity in the single European railway area lays down rules for capacity management, traffic management, and performance review, and amends Directive 2012/34/EU and repeals Regulation (EU) No 913/2010. It introduces a three-phase capacity management process: strategic planning, scheduling and allocation, and adaptation and rescheduling, with a focus on increasing rail's modal share and meeting EU climate targets. It strengthens the role of the European Network of Infrastructure Managers (ENIM) and establishes a European Railway Platform (ERP) as a consultative body, and assigns new tasks to the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA). It sets rules for allocating capacity through framework agreements, annual, rolling, and ad hoc processes, and for compensating changes to capacity rights, with a single one-stop shop for multi-network requests. It requires digital tools for capacity and traffic management, including a European capacity management tool and a train information system, with specific implementation deadlines.

Key points

  1. The regulation applies to the Union rail system and excludes Cyprus and Malta as long as they have no railway system.
  2. Infrastructure managers must manage capacity in three phases: strategic planning, scheduling and allocation, and adaptation and rescheduling.
  3. ENIM must develop a European framework for capacity management within 12 months, and infrastructure managers must justify any deviations, which require regulatory approval.
  4. Infrastructure managers must declare infrastructure highly utilised or congested based on thresholds, and then carry out a capacity analysis and, if congested, a capacity-enhancement plan.
  5. Capacity rights can be allocated as capacity specifications or train paths, and multi-network requests must be handled through a single one-stop shop.
  6. Framework agreements can cover periods longer than one working timetable, with a maximum of 15 years for specialised infrastructure, and must not preclude use by other applicants.
  7. Compensation is due for major changes to capacity rights, except in force majeure, with levels set by regulatory bodies and published in the network statement.
  8. Infrastructure managers must coordinate cross-border traffic and crisis management, and ENIM must adopt a European framework for this within 12 months.
  9. A European Railway Platform (ERP) is established as a consultative body to ENIM, composed of railway undertakings and other applicants.
  10. Digital tools for capacity and traffic management must be implemented by specific dates, including a European capacity management tool and a train information system.
  11. Regulatory bodies must cooperate within the ENRRB, which can issue opinions and recommendations on cross-border matters.
  12. The regulation applies from 1 January 2026, with transitional provisions for framework agreements and working timetables.

Who is affected

  • Infrastructure managers: must implement new capacity management processes, coordinate with ENIM, and use digital tools.
  • Railway undertakings and other applicants: can request capacity through various processes and benefit from a one-stop shop for multi-network requests.
  • Operators of service facilities: must cooperate with infrastructure managers and provide information digitally.
  • Regulatory bodies: gain new oversight tasks and must cooperate within the ENRRB.
  • Member States: must provide stable multiannual funding for infrastructure and may issue strategic guidance.

Figures and deadlines

  • Framework agreements for specialised infrastructure may last up to 15 years.
  • The regulation applies from 1 January 2026.
  • The first working timetable under the new framework starts on 9 December 2029.
  • The Commission must evaluate the regulation by 31 December 2030.
  • Capacity restrictions of more than 7 days and affecting over 30% of traffic must be published at least 24 months in advance.
  • The European capacity management tool must be operational by 1 July 2025.
  • The path coordination system must be operational by 1 January 2026.

Legal basis: Article 91 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union