ERFA - European Rail Freight Association
ERFA represents new entrants, i.e. all those operators who want open access and fair market conditions, and sustains their role of pushing forward the development of the railway market.
The members of ERFA represent the entire value chain of rail transportation: rail freight operators, wagon keepers, service providers, forwarders, passenger operators and national rail freight associations.
ERFA works towards a competitive and innovative single European railway market by promoting attractive, fair and transparent market conditions for all railway companies.
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NEWS / EVENTS21-09-16ERFA commits to ERTMS DeploymentERFA co-signed the Memorandum of Understanding for the deployment of ERTMS with other stakeholders and Violeta Bulc, European Commissionner for Transport, at Innotrans on the 21st September. |
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POSITIONS / PUBLICATIONS01-09-16List of Applicable LegislationRecently ERFA, together with other associations entered into a joint agreement with TÜV Süd, where the latter will provide the associations with an updated list of all applicable legislation for railway manufacturing, maintenance and refurbishment, also known as "Listing of directives relating to RFU-PLG Ol3" |
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NEWSLETTERS25-07-16ERFA Newsletter n°3 |
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POSITIONS / PUBLICATIONS22-07-16How can rail improve the efficiency of its own charging regime to limit competition distortions?Effective implementation of existing EU rules would already be an important step forward in improving TRANSPARENCY, EFFICIENCY and CONSISTENCY of charges.
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PRESS04-07-16Joint letter urging strong EU action to decarbonise transportIn a joint letter with European transport associations, ERFA, representing rail new entrants, calls for an ambitious strategy to tackle rising Green House Gas emissions from the transport sector. Major opportunities to decarbonise transport must be grasped within all modes, but also with a focus on shifting to cleaner modes. A modal shift to rail in particular for medium and long distance passenger and freight transport can play a major role in reducing CO2 emissions from the transport sector. ERFA believes that the promotion of a more level playing field in infrastructure charging between all modes goes hand in hand with efforts to enhance rail’s performance and competitiveness. |
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21-09-16ERFA commits to ERTMS DeploymentERFA co-signed the Memorandum of Understanding for the deployment of ERTMS with other stakeholders and Violeta Bulc, European Commissionner for Transport, at Innotrans on the 21st September. |
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23-06-16The General Contract of Use for Wagons is celebrating 10 years of successIn 2006, following the liberalisation of the rail freight market, ERFA, UIP and UIC created the General Contract of Use for Wagons. It is a multilateral single contract between those operating wagons and those owning wagons. It specifyies the mutual rights and obligations in order to allow cross-border activities. A very good example of simple, but effective solutions, which the rail sector is able to develop when it cooperates. In other words, a success.
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21-06-16Railway Sector Declaration on Boosting International Rail FreightThe rail sector and its customers presented a declaration at the TEN-T Days in Rotterdam, committing themselves to the aim of enhancing the competitiveness of the Rail Freight Corridors for the benefit of all customers, and to improving the quality, reliability and efficiency of transporting goods by rail across Europe. |
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13-06-16More EU budget for TransportThe Transport sector is mobilised to urge European institutions to dedicate more EU funds to transport in order to complete the Trans-European Network for Transport (TEN-T). More EU Budget for Transport is the Best Investment Plan for Europe. |
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18-04-162nd Plenary Meeting of the Dialogue for Railway UndertakingsThe RU Dialogue offers a forum for regular and open dialogue between Railway undertakings (RUs), associations representing RUs, the European Commission and the European Railway Agency (ERA) on subjects of interest to the railway undertakings. When? 10th of May 2016, 09:15 - 17:00 Where? Brussels |
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04-07-16Joint letter urging strong EU action to decarbonise transportIn a joint letter with European transport associations, ERFA, representing rail new entrants, calls for an ambitious strategy to tackle rising Green House Gas emissions from the transport sector. Major opportunities to decarbonise transport must be grasped within all modes, but also with a focus on shifting to cleaner modes. A modal shift to rail in particular for medium and long distance passenger and freight transport can play a major role in reducing CO2 emissions from the transport sector. ERFA believes that the promotion of a more level playing field in infrastructure charging between all modes goes hand in hand with efforts to enhance rail’s performance and competitiveness. |
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19-04-164th Railway Package, Political pillar : A missed opportunityThe Council and the European Parliament agreed on a final version of the 4th Railway Package. The result is far removed from the European Commission’s initial ambition for reforming rail. The real winners from yesterday’s agreement are the other more polluting modes of transport, led notably by the road sector, who continue to make market gains where rail refuses to reform. |
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18-03-16ERFA leads the calls for rail to raise its gameAt ERFA's Annual event the EU Commission's Head of Transport Henrik Hololei led calls for the rail sector to raise its game. Highlighting ERFA's ambitious, new action plan to deliver high performance on the rail freight corridors, Mr Hololei welcomed the fresh momentum to tackle rail's current underperformance. |
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26-10-15Joint Open Letter ahead of Trilogues on 4th RPAn open letter co-signed by the representatives of the customers,passengers, independent rail operators, rail leasing companies and environmental campaigners urging ambitious reform of the rail sector. |
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29-09-15Close financial transparency loopholesAhead of a decisive meeting on 30th September ERFA urges an end to loopholes in financial transparency. The loopholes that have recently emerged in discussions within Council create competitive distortions between EU Member States and within the rail sector. ERFA warns that they are contrary to the conditions needed for a competitive rail sector. |
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01-09-16List of Applicable LegislationRecently ERFA, together with other associations entered into a joint agreement with TÜV Süd, where the latter will provide the associations with an updated list of all applicable legislation for railway manufacturing, maintenance and refurbishment, also known as "Listing of directives relating to RFU-PLG Ol3" |
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22-07-16How can rail improve the efficiency of its own charging regime to limit competition distortions?Effective implementation of existing EU rules would already be an important step forward in improving TRANSPARENCY, EFFICIENCY and CONSISTENCY of charges.
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04-07-16Joint letter urging strong EU action to decarbonise transportIn a joint letter to the European Commission the European transport associations, CER, EIM, ERFA, T&E, UITP and UNIFE call for an ambitious strategy to tackle rising Green House Gas emissions from the transport sector (from 1990 – 2013 GHG emissions have risen by 20%) Major opportunities to decarbonise transport must be grasped within all modes, but also with a focus on shifting to cleaner modes. |
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30-03-16Rail Freight Corridors need quick winsERFA highlight a list of “quick wins” for the Rail Freight Corridors – relatively SMALL investments in quality than can result in BIG improvements on the performance of rail. |
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08-03-16A revision of the Rail Freight Corridors regulation is needed!ERFA calls for a revision of the Rail Freight Corridors regulation in order to improve the performance of rail freight services, focusing on the need for strengthened leadership and targeted financial support for achieving quick wins, as well as improvements in the provision of efficient train paths. |
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Rail competition barometer
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The Commission refers Greece, Romania and Luxembourg to Court!
22.7.2016 - The European Commission refers Greece, Luxembourg and Romania to the Court of Justice of the EU for failure to transpose the Directive on a single European railway area, which guarantees a fair access to the rail market for all RUs.
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Unannounced inspections in rail passenger sector for anti-competitive agreements
The European Commission confirms inspections in several rail passenger companies for anti-competitive agreements aiming to shut out competing rail passenger transport operators from the market.
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SNCF has the monopoly of expertise!
The French rail reform in 2014 has reinforced the monopoly of SNCF in terms of expertise. There is no independent investigations concerning the accidents in Brétigny or in Alsace!
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Illegal State aid in Portuguese railways?
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigations against the Portuguese State-owned railway maintenance company for illegal state aid. This would create an anti-competitive rail supply industry.
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"Competition will wait"
Le Monde has published an article explaining that Member States, in particular France and Germany, have protected their monopolies at the detriment of the rail market. After 3 years of negotiations, the Commission is disappointed.
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Dawn raid in Czech National Railways
A new case of anti-competitive practises on the line Ostrava-Prague affects the Czech National Railways. Dawn raid has been conducted in the incumbent's office in order to establish the necessary transparency.
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Shippers call for a "greater market focus in Rail Freight Corridors"
The European Shippers' Council calls for a market-oriented approach on Rail Freight Corridors (RFC). In order to attract shippers to a competitive rail, RFC should meet market expectations.
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ARAFER rejects the nomination of Mr Farandou as the Head of SNCF Réseaux
The French Regulator (ARAFER) has serious doubts concerning the independence of Mr Farandou vis-à-vis SNCF Mobilité. The rail sector in France needs an independent SNCF Réseaux to guarantee an open and non-discriminatory market.
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Czech national railways involve in a corruption case
Czech anti-corruption police detained six people suspected to manipulate the tenders for major railways investments. Czech Transport ministry and the state railway operator would be involved in this corruption case.
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DB Sales' practises are anti-competitive
After a procedure of 2 years, the German Cartel Office would confirm that Deutsche Bahn Sales' practises would not respect competition law and would discriminate new entrants.
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The markets expect public transport to be open by 2019
10/03/2016 LEO Express, a Czech private transport company which entered the passenger transport market in 2012, urges EU institutions on opening the rail market for passengers as soon as possible.
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Fair competition is essential for rail growth
3/11/15 The German freight association NEE and passenger association Mofair highlight the benefits of competition for the development of the rail system, and the stagnation in the long distance passenger market, where there is effectively no competition.
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Finland - Failure of rail leads to business opportunity for road transport
04/09/2015 Chair of the Finnish Rail Passenger Association regrets that the passenger market in Finland remains closed to competition, to the benefit of business opportunities for road transport companies
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France and Germany killing off competition in their home markets
27/07/2015 Tony Berkeley, RFG Chair, criticses France and Germany for closing up their rail markets, while ignoring the advice of 2 new competition reports, one from the UK and one from Germany, that advocate the benefits of more competition above rail.
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German Monopolies Commission calls for separation between track and train ownership
22/07/2015 The Monopolies Commission is convinced that the only way to establish undistorted competition in the German railway sector is to completely separate the infrsatructure and transport units of the integrated company Deutsche Bahn AG
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4th Railway Package - keep it together and stand firm on monopoly demands
07/07/2015 In a message to the Luxembourg Presidency, Tony Berkeley, RFG Chair, highlights concerns over practices on the French and German rail market and the end of alliancing in the UK. Protecting national monopolies is not the way forward for rail.
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Where is the Single European rail market?
14/04/2015 In his reference to siamese twin monopolies, Tony Berkeley, RFG Chair, criticises DB and SNCF for creating "smoke-screen"competition within their own holding companies, while obstructing any real competition in their home countries
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Wasted airmiles as Transport Ministers block growth in eco-friendly rail
13/03/2015 Westbahn criticises the EU Transport Ministers who continue to block progress on the railway market and urges a much-needed European,rather than national approach, to rail.
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The truth about jobs in the European rail industry
07/03/2015 In reference to a study commissioned by UTP, SNCF and ARAF, Tony Berkeley warns against following the SNCF employment model which makes rail uncompetitive compared with road and aviation.
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Antimonopoly Authority announces closer look into rail sector
03/02/2015 The antimonopoly commission in Slovakia has announced that it will focus on identifying market barriers in the rail passenger market and recommend measures for their elimination.
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French Competition Authority also expresses concern on rail reform
Not enough importance given by the rail reform to neutral and transparent access to the rail infrastructure, concludes the French Competition Authority.
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Turning national monopolies into a pan-European market is hard!
10/01/2015 According to The Economist " Lack of competition among rail operators is another reason why high speed rail is failing to win passengers... The EU is finding it hard to transform national rail monopolies into a pan-European market...."
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La fin du train? asks Le Monde
06/01/15 La fin du train – "Trop cher et grevé de dettes, le système ferroviaire français est à bout de souffle."
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Major passenger transport associations oppose splitting the 4th Railway Package
08/01/15 UITP, EPTO and EMTA defend a package approach whereby both pillars are taken forward jointly
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Worrying developments on the French rail reform - towards even more monopolisation?
19/12/14 As quoted by the French newspaper Le Monde, the new developments are a crude manipulation and distort the spirit of the law voted this summer. "La manipulation est grossière et dénature l'esprit meme de la loi votée cet été"
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Interesting findings from new rail freight study
12/12/14 "One way or another the stakeholders in the railway sector will have to let go of the natural monopoly, because only through the arrival of new competitors will the impasse of old habits gradually be broken"
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ARAF concerns on French reform
8/12/14 French Regulator raises concerns over cross-subsidisation, lack of financial transparency, risk of exchange of sensitive and strategic information under the new SNCF EPIC structure
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Industry support for keeping 4th Railway Package together
02/12/14 The European Freight and Logistics Forum, whose membership includes Mars, Procter & Gamble, Cargill, Volvo as well as ports, logistics service providers and more, voice their support for a level playing field in the rail sector.
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New Entrants win prestigious Swiss rail award
2/12/14 ERFA points to the success of BLS cargo, in partnership with ERFA member ERS Railways, in delivering innovation and efficiency in cross border rail services
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Nobel Prize Winner - a strong critic of French Rail refom and lack of real competition on the French rail market
Jean Tirole, who has received the Noble prize for Economic Sciences, explains on Swedish TV that problems linked to poor conditions and maintennce on French rail network cannot be attributed to deregulation, as France has not yet deregulated.
