Synthèse | The opening up to competition of passenger rail transport in Europe

February, 3rd 2023

France, with the law of June 28th 2018 known as the "new rail pact", transposing EU Directive 2016/2370 of Dec 14th 2016 on the opening up of the market for national rail passenger transport services, is one of the last European States to have opened up its domestic passenger transport services to competition. The aim is now to analyze the ways in which our European neighbours have done so. 

Several questions arise in order to analyze the concrete results of opening up to competition in the European States, and these can form the backbone of the discussions : What methods of opening up to competition and modalities of organization of the sector have been adopted in these States? Has competition really taken hold and have consumers seen the benefits? Are there still obstacles to full and effective competition? Have disputes arisen and have they led to changes in the organization and regulation of the sector?

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