4th Railway Package

Entry into force of the 4th Railway Package's technical Pillar and the changes it entails

The 4^th Railway Package is a set of six legislative texts designed to complete the single market for Rail services (Single European Railway Area). Its overarching goal is to revitalise the rail sector and make it more competitive vis-à-vis other modes of transport. It comprises two ‘pillars’ which have been negotiated largely in parallel.

The Technical Pillar was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council in April 2016 and addresses interoperability, safety authorisation, ERTMS track-side certification but also the reduction of national rules and the increased role of the EU Agency for Railways (ERA) to deliver authorisations and certifications.

Legal Acts adopted

Significance to UIP and our Members 

Of all the changes brought along with the 4^th Railway Package, the main focus for UIP and its members lies on the substantial reforms introduced by Interoperability Directive (EU) 2016/797 and the new European vehicle authorisation (VA) procedure. On the 16^th June 2019, the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) has started to issue vehicle authorisations and safety certificates. All applications go through an IT Portal, the so called One-Stop-Shop (OSS), acting as a single-entry point for all stakeholders. The summer of 2018 marked the start of the second phase of implementation for ERA and aimed mainly at finetuning the processes, procedures and instruments as well as the internal organisation and competencies of the Agency.

Unfortunately only 9 MS plus Switzerland and Norway have transposed the directives by the 16th of June 2019, while the other 17 MS will do it by 2020. As a result, different legal regimes apply in the different MS which in turn will impact the recognition of authorisations issued after the 16th June 2019 for freight wagons to be used in several MS (GE/CW). Consequently, for all the projects requiring a new/updated vehicle authorisation falling within the transition period between June 2019 and June 2020, UIP recommends to use the OSS and submit applications to the Agency (ERA) to avoid legal difficulties and uncertainties – an opinion which was later confirmed by the Agency.

UIP, together with GRB partners, maintains an open dialogue with the Agency to develop common proposals and recommendations on how to improve the implementation of the 4th RP. In addition, UIP will continue to inform keepers and ECMs about any relevant lines-to-take (LTT) in order to cope with the new processes and the enhanced role of the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA). You will find the LTT published by ERA in the list of EU Documents of interest.