Rail Infrastructure Charging and On-Track Competition in Germany

In 1994, Germany opened up its railway network for third party access and introduced track access charging schemes. Several rail companies run services on the tracks of the incumbent company Deutsche Bahn (DB). This article discusses the rules for network access, the track access charging scheme and the problems of competition in the rail market. The author focuses on regional rail passenger transport because this is the most lucrative and promising market for new entrants. In this segment of service, non-DB companies have increasingly used the opportunity opened by (paid) access to DB tracks and competitive tendering by regional authorities. However, although their market share has grown, DB is still the major carrier. The author concludes that the failure to set an appropriate institutional and regulatory framework has proven to be the major obstacle to a more intensive competition in the rail market in Germany. The author outlines a number of strategies that would help to correct this situation, including a more general obligation to provide regional rail passenger services.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/49563458
• Authors:
  • LINK, HEIKE
• Publication Date: 2004

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 17-27
• Serial:
  • International Journal of Transport Management
  • Volume: 2
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Pergamon
  • ISSN: 1471-4051
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/14714051

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Competition; Economic factors; Management and organization; Passenger service; Passenger transportation; Pricing; Railroad transportation; Regional railroads
• Uncontrolled Terms: Service delivery
• Geographic Terms: Germany
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01002981
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 4 2005 11:55AM