The Second Railway Package is a group of
European Union legislation which promote common standards and
open access, working towards an integrated European railway area.
History
For much of the 20th century,
rail transport in Europe
Rail transport in Europe is characterized by its diversity, both technical and infrastructural. Electrified railway networks operate at a plethora of different voltages AC and DC varying from 750 to 25,000 volts, and signaling systems vary from ...
was dominated by national monopolies; these effectively excluded competitors from their networks. Starting in 1991, the EU developed legislation to open railways up to competition, which would help them regain
modal share
A modal share (also called mode split, mode-share, or modal split) is the percentage of travelers using a particular type of transportation or number of trips using said type. In freight transportation, this may be measured in mass.
Modal share i ...
from road and air transport.
Legislation
Directive 2004/49/EC
2004/49/EC is the Railway Safety Directive; it has since been amended by Directive 2008/110/EC. It harmonised safety principles, including procedures for granting safety approval to railway operators and infrastructure owners.
Directive 2004/50/EC
Directive 2004/50/EC harmonised interoperability requirements, particularly for high-speed rail. It amended Directives 96/48 and 2001/16; it has since been updated by 2008/57/EC.
Directive 2004/51/EC
Directive 2004/51/EC allowed open access for freight services, nationally and internationally, starting in January 2007
Regulation (EC) 881/2004
Regulation 881/2004 created the
European Railway Agency
The European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) is an agency of the European Union (EU) that sets mandatory requirements for European railways and manufacturers in the form of Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI), which apply to the ...
, to coordinate safety and interoperability efforts.
See also
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EU Directive 91/440: The First Railway Package
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ERTMS
The European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) is the system of standards for management and interoperation of signalling for railways by the European Union (EU). It is conducted by the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) and is the ...
- A pan-European signalling system being promoted by the EU.
*
European Railway Agency
The European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) is an agency of the European Union (EU) that sets mandatory requirements for European railways and manufacturers in the form of Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI), which apply to the ...
*
Rail transport in Europe
Rail transport in Europe is characterized by its diversity, both technical and infrastructural. Electrified railway networks operate at a plethora of different voltages AC and DC varying from 750 to 25,000 volts, and signaling systems vary from ...
*
Third railway package
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Fourth railway package
References
{{reflist
External links
European Commission webpage on the second railway packageEuropean Railway Agency
Transport and the European Union
Rail transport in Europe
European Union law
2004 in law
2004 in rail transport
International rail transport
Railway02