SLOVENIA’s National Assembly has adopted an act amending and supplementing the country’s Railway Transport Act, which will open the domestic passenger rail market to competition.

FINLAND’s passenger rail market will be opened to competition in the early 2020s, ending the monopoly of incumbent operator VR Group, under plans unveiled by minister of transport and communications Mrs Anne Berner and minister of economic affairs Mr Mika Lintilä on August 9.

RÈGIONS de France, an association representing 18 French regions, says its members are ready to work with the national government to set terms and conditions for the competitive tendering of regional passenger services.

THE European Union moved an important step closer to harmonised safety approvals for railway equipment and operators on April 28, when the European Parliament approved the European Council's common position on the technical pillar of the Fourth Railway Package.