#52026AG0008(02)EU railway capacity planning and allocation reform
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This measure explains the Council’s position on a new EU system for planning and allocating railway infrastructure capacity. It would replace the current capacity-allocation rules in Directive 2012/34/EU and repeal the freight corridor rules in Regulation (EU) No 913/2010. The practical goal is to plan rail capacity earlier and coordinate it better across borders, so passenger and freight operators can run more reliable services. Infrastructure managers will use a three-step process: long-term planning, capacity allocation, and later adjustments. Digital tools, consultation with rail operators, conflict-resolution rules, and penalties for too many late changes are central parts of the system. The first timetable under the new rules is expected to apply from 14 December 2030.
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Key Changes
- Creates a new EU-wide framework for planning and allocating railway infrastructure capacity.
- Introduces a three-step process: strategic planning, allocation of capacity rights, and controlled timetable adjustments.
- Strengthens cross-border coordination through ENIM, a network coordinator, digital tools, performance monitoring, and common frameworks.
Obligations
What this law requires
From the first timetable applying on 14 December 2030, railway infrastructure managers must manage capacity through three consecutive steps: long-term planning, allocation, and adaptation, each including consultation with applicants.
Infrastructure managers must coordinate strategic capacity planning with other infrastructure managers to support cross-border and multi-network rail services.
Infrastructure managers must allocate single-network and multi-network capacity rights using digital tools and digital services.
Infrastructure managers must integrate infrastructure works into railway capacity planning.
Where capacity allocation conflicts remain and no consensual solution is found, infrastructure managers must apply an equitable, transparent, and non-discriminatory conflict-resolution methodology based on operational, socio-economic, and environmental criteria.