We are excited to announce the Call for Offers for the European Transport Market Study, which aims to provide an overview of the current state of the rail traffic market in the EU, focusing on both freight and passenger services. The study will provide traffic forecasts and recommendations to enhance the attractiveness of railway transport for the future.
Regulatory Requirements and Background
Article 9 of the Regulation (EU) 913/2010 requires the Management Boards of Rail Freight Corridors to carry out and periodically update a transport market study relating to the observed and expected changes in the traffic on their respective freight corridors as a consequence of them being established, covering the different types of traffic, both regarding the transport of freight and the transport of passengers. This study shall also review, where necessary, the socio-economic costs and benefits stemming from the establishment of the freight corridors. Article 14 of the aforesaid Regulation further requires the Management Boards of RFCs to evaluate the need for capacity to be allocated to freight trains running on the freight corridor considering the transport market study referred to in Article 9.
Consolidating Methodologies and Timelines
The methodologies for previous transport market studies of individual Rail Freight Corridors (RFCs) varied greatly, resulting in incomparable contents and varying update timelines. In 2022, these aspects have been addressed by means of a dedicated project involving the representatives of all RFCs, resulting in a feasibility study for conducting a European TMS (focusing mainly on freight transport) and a draft of dedicated RNE guidelines for updating RFCs’ TMSs.
Following this project, The European Commission requested an extension of the study in 2023 to include passenger transport, with a detailed implementation plan to be provided in 2024, as part of a broader plan to conduct a complex European TMS in 2025 and beyond.
The RFC Network also asked RNE to support the RFCs in conducting a joint update of their TMSs in 2023 and 2024, which was approved by the RNE General Assembly.
RNE’s Role
RNE will support the RFCs in conducting the next update of their individual transport market studies, due by the end of 2024, and select the future supplier of the update via an EU-wide public tender. To simplify the selection procedure, this tender should encompass just one evaluation round. The tender will comprise two lots, with the first for extending the feasibility study for a European TMS and the second for updating the TMSs of the RFCs.
Submit an Offer!
We welcome all interested parties to submit their offers and be part of this crucial project that aims to enhance rail traffic in the European Union, promote sustainable development and growth, and achieve the EU’s environmental goals. A tender with the title: RFC_ETMS_FS_2023_24 and the file number RFC_ETMS_FS_2023_24 has been successfully published on the TED (tender electronic daily) under this LINK. A direct LINK from TED is also available to the Austrian tendering platform (auftrag.at).