Independent rail regulators from across Europe today signed an agreement which will ensure closer cooperation to meet the needs of passengers and freight customers.
A group of independent rail regulatory bodies from sixteen European countries, including Britain’s Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), met today in The Hague to establish the ‘Independent Regulators’ Group – Rail’ (IRG-Rail) – a new forum for cooperation between national independent rail regulators.
This new body will seek to:
- Promote the interests of passenger and freight users in Europe;
- Encourage sustainable and effective competition in the provision of passenger and freight transport;
- Promote a consistent approach to the European regulatory framework for railways; and
- Speak with a strong and common voice at Community level.
In a joint statement, members of the newly-formed IRG-Rail said:
“As the rail market in Europe grows, now is the time to strengthen cooperation between national rail regulatory bodies.
“Effective independent rail regulation and close cooperation between Europe’s regulators will help to ensure that a competitive European market for railways develops and that our railways are meeting the needs of passengers and freight customers.
“The new IRG-Rail forum provides a platform for sharing best practice and ensuring robust and consistent rail regulation across Europe.”
In its first year, IRG-Rail will be led by Matthias Kurth (Chair, Bundesnetzagentur, the German multisectoral regulator) as Chair, and Anna Walker (Chair, ORR) as Vice Chair. The IRG-Rail Group will initially develop common approaches on emerging EU rail legislation.
To learn more about IRG-Rail, visit the group’s dedicated website.
