The Transport Committee broadly welcomes the European Commission's 4th Railway Package but believes it focuses too much on liberalising the railway in domestic markets at the expense of important measures to improve cross-border freight and passenger services. The Committee recommends the UK Government should actively negotiate to ensure: joint working between Network Rail and train operators is not prohibited or unduly restricted; metro and light rail systems are not affected by the proposals to separate infrastructure and service operators; the UK's arrangements for letting train franchises are not challenged. In addition, MPs are concerned about: governance arrangements for Eurotunnel; the maximum annual threshold proposed for rail franchises, which could prevent UK companies bidding for work in other EU countries; and the possibility that the EU may become responsible for specifying the content of public transport plans: these should remain the responsibility of national or local governments.

Government response to HC 1001, session 2012-13 (ISBN 9780215056962)

The fourth railway package comprises six legislative proposals to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of rail across the European Union, put forward by the European Commission in 2013. It aims to remove the remaining institutional, legal and technical obstacles, and create a truly integrated European Railway Area. Although the legislative process on technical issues did not present many difficulties, negotiations on the liberalisation of rail markets and governance structures (known as the market pillar) continue and prove more complex. Trilogue discussions began after the adoption of a general approach by the Council in October 2015, and should conclude in 2016. Once adopted, the fourth railway package is expected to give a new impetus to rail services across the EU, and will contribute to meeting the objectives of the Commission's 2011 White Paper on Transport.

Through policy and intervention national governments in Europe have long held an active interest in railways, an interest that has transferred to the supranational level via the EU commission. This book explores why the EU Commission has been so slow in creating an EU railway policy, pointing the finger at strong resistance by national governments