Liberalization and regulation in Central European railway markets

• Autorzy: Tomeš Z.
• Konferencja: XI Międzynarodowa Konferencja Naukowa EURO-TRANS 2012 pt.: „Europejska przestrzeń transportu - koncepcja i rzeczywistość”; 24-25.09.2012; Szczecin; Polska
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

European reforms were applied to revitalise Central European railways. These were based on a vertical separation of the infrastructure from the operation and on allowing third-party access. Central European countries were originally behind in application of the regulations. Approaching EU accession, however, made them apply these very rigorously. As a result of liberalisation, the competition in railway freight transport is fiercer in new member countries than in the old member countries. On top of this, those new member countries with the most developed competition are experiencing the largest drop in their railways’ market shares. Some countries indicate that competition development is supported not so much by the implementation of reform strategies but rather by the weakness of the incumbent who typically has chronic problems with liquidity and indebtedness while the newly arising competitors strip them of the most lucrative parts of the market. The drop in the railways’ modal shares is further deepened by the setup of the infrastructure fees. These are very high, especially for freight transport, in order to support the passenger transport. This approach, however, deforms the market and further weakens railway freight transport competitiveness. Countries have mixed and ambiguous experience with vertical unbundling. On the one hand it shaken railways monopoly and competition was strongly pushed, especially in freight transport. On the other side it did not stop the ongoing decrease in market share and numerous countries are experiencing a pronounced financial weakening of their incumbents. The Central European incumbents were drastically weakened by the transformation and by long-term government underfunding. The liberalisation of the rail market represents further pressure. Even though the competition is bringing positive effects, especially in better customer service and reduced tariffs, the risks of such development must not be neglected. Railway companies are weakened to such an extent that some present an acute risk of a financial collapse. The current global crisis has contributed as well. New competitors are interested only in the most lucrative parts of the rail business and the weakened rail companies are losing many market segments. On the other hand, the national railway operators represent a strong political and labour union force and compel the payment of numerous subsidies to keep the companies in business. In some countries, the result of this development can then be seen in the form of dynamic competition in the most lucrative market segments, an overall decrease in the railways’ market share and the growth of public subsidies not for prospective restructuring projects, but rather to fund the incumbent’s mere survival.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

Central European railways; liberalization; regulation

• Wydawca: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Szczecińskiego
• Czasopismo: Zeszyty Naukowe. Problemy Transportu i Logistyki / Uniwersytet Szczeciński
• Rocznik: 2012
• Tom: Nr 18
• Strony: 279--293
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 10 poz., tab., wykr.

Twórcy

autor

Tomeš Z.

• Masaryk University

Bibliografia

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