Opinions invited on proposals to amend Rail Transport Act and Act on Transport Services

The amendments are due to the implementation regulations issued under the EU’s fourth railway package on the register of railway rolling stock and railway infrastructure.

With regard to the Rail Transport Act, the Ministry proposes relief from the licence requirements for the safety certificate and in terms of the Act on Transport Services relief from the licence requirements for rolling stock.

The Ministry also proposes that in terms of market regulation, port rails be in future treated as a service facility instead of a part of infrastructure manager, which would make it easier for port rail managers to finance the maintenance of their infrastructure through service charges.

An addition would also be made to the duties of the Rail Regulatory Body: to assess the decision of the competent authority to acquire the rail passenger services within the public service obligation as a direct award of contracts instead of competitive tendering.

What are the next steps?

The deadline for commenting the amendments to the Acts is 30 April 2020. The request for opinions is available online at www.lausuntopalvelu.fi.

Comments may be submitted by all organisations and private individuals.

Following the consultation round, the preparations for amending the Acts will continue by Ministry officials. The Government proposals are to be submitted to Parliament in autumn 2020.

Inquiries:

Risto Saari, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 342 311

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