“More has to be done if rail is to achieve its full potential,” said European Commissioner for Transport Siim Kallas at the InnoTrans opening ceremony.
During the event’s opening address, Kallas said the Commission was aiming to push ahead with an ambitious 32 billion euro investment programme in transport infrastructure around Europe.
Kallas said the fourth railway package would build on the 4.5 trillion euros that was invested in transport between 2008 and 2011.
Kallas, who is also vice president of the European Commission, said: “This is so we can operate and expand infrastructure for better connections with neighbouring countries.
“Building infrastructure, however, will not be enough on its own. Today rail is still a split and fragmented sector. These and other barriers make it difficult for new companies to come and compete.
“To ensure Europe’s railways reach their full potential will require more reforms.
“For rail to thrive there must be a genuine single market.”
Kallas said current policies mean it can cost up to six million euros to certify a locomotive to run in different countries within the European Union – a process that he believes needs harmonising if rail is to thrive.
Dr Peter Ramsauer, federal minister of transport, building and urban affairs, agreed that standards needed to be the same across European countries but believed it is “very difficult to bring it under one umbrella of a one-stop shop in Europe”.
He added: “I’m a proponent of the fourth railway package. We need it.
“Railway policy in Europe can only be developed in a Pan-European way and in some ways that even becomes too narrow.”
