The “second railway package” is based on a first package of EU measures which was adopted at the beginning of 2001 and which laid the foundations of internal market for rail freight services.
The new package of measures now provides the necessary legal framework for effecting the liberalisation of rail traffic.
The opening up of the trans-European rail freight network for international rail freight services commences on 15th March 2003.
The complete opening of the railway system is set for 2006.
The new bundle of measures contains 5 proposals covering the following aspects:
• Safety
• Interoperability
• European Railway Agency
• Amendment of the Directive 91/440
• EU membership of OTIF
Together with the adoption of the second railway package the Commission considers the improvement of service quality in the rail freight sector as another crucial point.