The Council of the EU has received the European Parliament's position on a proposed regulation to optimise railway infrastructure capacity allocation within the single European railway area, according to a cover note dated 3 May 2026. The new regulation would amend Directive 2012/34/EU and repeal Regulation (EU) No 913/2010, aiming to improve efficiency and cross-border coordination in rail traffic management. The move impacts rail infrastructure managers, railway undertakings, national regulators, and passengers by potentially increasing capacity utilisation and reducing delays.
Document Details
The cover note, transmitted by the European Parliament to the Council, formalises the Parliament's stance on the legislative proposal. The initiative falls under the EU's transport policy, specifically rail transport and the single market for rail services. The document does not specify the Council formation or Presidency involved, nor does it indicate whether the Parliament's position includes amendments to the original proposal.
Policy Orientations and Trade-offs
The proposed regulation seeks to balance efficiency gains with operational complexity. Key trade-offs include: - Centralised coordination vs. national autonomy: Stronger EU-level oversight of capacity allocation may improve cross-border traffic flow but could reduce flexibility for national infrastructure managers. - Market liberalisation vs. incumbent protection: New rules may open access to infrastructure for new entrants, potentially increasing competition but challenging established operators. - Short-term disruption vs. long-term gains: Implementing new capacity management systems could cause temporary inefficiencies before delivering promised benefits.
Impact on Stakeholders - Rail infrastructure managers: May face new obligations to adopt harmonised capacity allocation methods, requiring investment in IT systems and training. - Railway undertakings (operators): Could benefit from more transparent and efficient access to slots, particularly for cross-border services, but may face higher administrative costs. - National regulatory bodies: Would need to oversee compliance with new rules, potentially requiring additional resources. - Passengers and freight customers: Expected to see improved service reliability and reduced journey times, though benefits may take years to materialise.
Institutional Follow-up
The Council will now examine the Parliament's position and may adopt its own stance, leading to interinstitutional negotiations (trilogues) to finalise the regulation. The European Commission, which originally proposed the legislation, will also be involved in the process. No timeline for adoption has been announced.
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