Rail privatization and competitive tendering in Europe

During the last two decades the European railway sector has experienced a number of changes and reforms aimed at increasing competition and private sector involvement. Sweden's vertical separation of infrastructure from operations in 1988 was an early initiative, also influencing EU-wide policies demanding separate accounts or full separation. In the mid 1990s Great Britain transformed its entire railway industry by means of privatisation and franchising. No other EU country has gone this far in terms of rail privatisation, but franchising and competitive tendering of passenger rail services have become important elements in several other countries. In the wake of this development, there has been an increase of both new and old operators becoming international players. These reforms are studied and discussed in some detail, drawing from the experience of franchising and competitive tendering in several European countries. The theoretical rationale as well as other reasons behind privatisation and competitive tendering are discussed and the positive and negative effects of the reforms are considered.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/02637960
• Authors:
  • ALEXANDERSSON, G
• Publication Date: 2009

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 43-58
• Monograph Title: Opening the market in the rail freight sector
• Serial:
  • BUILT ENVIRONMENT
  • Volume: 35
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Alexandrine Press
  • ISSN: 0263-7960

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Carriers; Competition; International; Passenger transportation; Privatization; Railroad transportation; Tenders
• Geographic Terms: Europe; Sweden; United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 137: Bid; 235: Competition; 8034: Europe; 9034: International; 1146: Passenger transport; 171: Privatisation; 1173: Rail bound transport; 8109: Sweden; 137: Tender; 274: Transport operator; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Passenger Transportation; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment; I10: Economics and Administration; I70: Traffic and Transport; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01127630
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: TRL
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: May 4 2009 7:42AM