Dialogue for fair access to the rail network
Berne, 25.05.2020 - In its activity report published today, the Railways Arbitration Commission (RACO) shows how it is using proactive market supervision to ensure non-discriminatory access to the rail network for all railway undertakings. In constant dialogue with the railway industry, RACO endeavours to identify potential discrimination between infrastructure managers and railway undertakings at an early stage and to find solutions together with the relevant stakeholders.
Proactive and accompanying market supervision
"We maintain close cooperation with the railway industry and do not only become active when complaints or reports are received", emphasises Patrizia Danioth Halter, President of RACO. A continuous exchange with the railway industry is of central importance to her, so that RACO can carry out its tasks efficiently. The activity report published today shows, for example, how RACO is supporting SBB in a project aimed at locating staff of the Passenger Division in the operations centres of the Infrastructure Division. To reduce the associated risks of discrimination, RACO and SBB agreed a package of measures for 2019
Specialist conference on digitalisation in rail transport
A further example of RACO's proactive approach is the conference during which an exchange platform was created and dialogue initiated as early as the concept phase of the smartrail 4.0 innovation programme. The conference featured various workshops in which some 40 participants from the railway industry, the administration and science discussed the challenges that digitalisation and in particular the smartrail 4.0 programme pose in relation to ensuring non-discriminatory access to the railway network. These challenges include, for example, differences between small companies with joint control and the system manager in relation to expertise on complex technical issues or potentially rising costs for transport operators due to the shifting of infrastructure functionalities to trains.
Intermodal freight terminals
In addition to the railway network, RACO is also responsible for the private intermodal freight terminals and their sidings. The federal government makes subsidies for such facilities conditional upon the granting of non-discriminatory access to all companies. A central prerequisite for this is that the terminal operators disclose their technical, operational and economic access conditions. In 2019, RACO ensured that all facilities concerned published their access conditions on their websites using prescribed standards.
RailCom - Advance notice of new name
The "Organisation of Railway Infrastructure" (OBI) legislative package is expected to enter into force in summer 2020. RACO will then be renamed RailCom and will be given new competencies in system management and participation rights.Address for enquiries
Railways Arbitration Commission RACO
Christoffelgasse 5
3003 Bern
Patrizia Danioth Halter, RACO Chair
Tel. +41 58 467 41 05, info@ske.admin.ch
Publisher
Rail Transport Commission RailCom
https://www.railcom.admin.ch/en/welcome/
