Source: European Parliament
1. Regulation (EU) 2024/1679[1] of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network, the TEN-T Regulation, was only adopted last year. It sets, amongst others, deadlines for the completion of networks and for the replacement of national, non-interoperable, rail safety systems (‘class B’ systems), with an EU standard system, notably the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS).
The regulation contains mechanisms to steer its level of implementation, including through national plans and programmes, the annual status report and the work plans drawn up by the European Coordinators as well as a review clause per 31 December 2033.
2. The Commission, supported by the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA), works continuously to harmonise administrative and technical requirements for railways in the EU. Recent initiatives include the proposal to renew the rules on capacity allocation, which is currently being negotiated with the European Parliament and the Council. Upcoming initiatives include proposals on the revision of the Train Drivers Directive[2] and a new legislative initiative on ticketing.
3. Together with Member States and ERA, the Commission works to identify and to remove identified barriers. Tools to identify these barriers include the so-called ‘log-book