Study on the Prices and Quality of Rail Passenger Services

The study is intended to investigate the rail service offer, defined in terms of fare levels and service quality, to passengers across the European Union and to assess how this has been influenced by policy in different Member States. The Commission is particularly interested in how the prices and service offer have evolved and vary in different States. It is also concerned with the impact of market liberalisation and competition, and policy in relation to services operated as Public Service Obligations (PSO services) under contract between a transport authority and a railway undertaking. A key objective is therefore to determine how far policy in each of these areas has influenced the attractiveness of rail services in different markets, more specifically suburban, regional and long-distance services operating on routes on the main European rail network. The findings are expected to inform the Commission’s Fifth Report on Rail Market Monitoring, to be published during the first half of 2016. The study covers all 26 Member States of the European Union which have operating railways, plus Norway and Switzerland. The report is organised as follows: Chapter 2 provides an overview of the passenger rail market in Europe, the institutional arrangements that govern rail policy and the characteristics of the national networks. Chapter 3 provides an analysis of suburban fares and tickets. Chapter 4 provides an analysis of other fares and tickets. Chapter 5 discusses competition between rail and car, coach and air transport. Chapter 6 discusses competition between rail operators, whether for or in the market. Chapter 7 examines quality and customer satisfaction. Chapter 8 synthesises and draws conclusions on the preceding analysis.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Edition: Final Report
  • Features: Appendices; Figures; Glossary; Maps; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 236p

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01633361
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: MOVE/B2/2015-126, 22870601
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Apr 28 2017 10:42AM