Breakthrough for European Rail

After years of negotiation, a breakthrough agreement between the European Parliament and EU Member States has been reached for European railway transport. Improved train types can be introduced much faster thanks to a single type approval system.

"No longer does a new train need to be approved by authorities in 28 Member States. The current situation of 28 different systems in each Member State is totally inefficient, expensive and unacceptable", said EPP Group MEP Markus Pieper who negotiated the 4th Railway Package with Georges Bach MEP and Luis de Grandes Pascual MEP. "A one-stop-shop for authorisations makes sense and is cheaper: one single procedure is necessary for train manufacturers. This will boost the production of improved European trains", he said after the agreement was reached early on Thursday morning.

Train transport will also be safer thanks to the agreement. A European Railway Agency (ERA) will share all available information about problems. "The safety aspects of the European railway sector are of particular importance to our citizens. We've managed to improve the current legislation considerably and harmonise safety standards to the highest level. This should give the industry the necessary tools to make a train ride even safer", said Bach.

Pieper added: "We are on track for a single European railway system where train passengers can travel cross-border much easier, faster and cheaper.”

"Today we have achieved a major goal: making our railway system more interoperable, secure and efficient, which, at the end of the day, means that we are building a better Europe for our citizens. We now have to wait for the agreement on the political pillar; then Europe will have a unique, fully operational railway system", said de Grandes Pascual.

"This agreement is not the end of the line. With the agreement we have reached now, we are on the right track. A political agreement on market opening and governance is the next step", concluded Pieper.