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A comparison of rail liberalisation levels across four European countries

Author

Listed:
  • Paolo Beria

    (POLIMI - Politecnico di Milano [Milan])

  • Emile Quinet

    (PSE - Paris-Jourdan Sciences Economiques - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

  • Gines de Rus

    (ULPGC - University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, UC3M - Universidad Carlos III de Madrid [Madrid])

  • Carola Schulz

    (IWW - Institute for Economic Policy Research - KIT - Karlsruhe Institute of Technology = Karlsruher Institut für Technologie)

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a research into railway regulation and liberalisation in Italy, France, Germany and Spain. The analysis covers the relationship between the State and the rail companies, network access conditions by operators, slot allocating and pricing schemes and how public service obligations are defined, financed and regulated. The aim of the paper is to give a comparative overview of the regulation of railways. The regulatory frameworks are described and then assessed according to their implications on the degree of liberalisation and on their actual market opening. The conclusions are that the actual level of market opening is still limited and, only in some cases, is the liberalisation improving. Entry in the industry has not yet developed its full potential. An issue emerging in this research is the opposing attitude of incumbent railways against liberalisation and the role of governments in backing this behaviour.

Suggested Citation

  • Paolo Beria & Emile Quinet & Gines de Rus & Carola Schulz, 2012. "A comparison of rail liberalisation levels across four European countries," Post-Print halshs-00754578, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-00754578
    DOI: 10.1016/j.retrec.2012.03.014
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nash, Chris, 2008. "Passenger railway reform in the last 20 years - European experience reconsidered," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 61-70, January.
    2. Javier Campos, 2006. "Spain: The End of an Era," Chapters, in: José A. Gómez-Ibáñez & Ginés de Rus (ed.), Competition in the Railway Industry, chapter 5, Edward Elgar Publishing.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Railways; Liberalisation; Regulation; Europe; Italy; France; Germany; Spain;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • L92 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Railroads and Other Surface Transportation
    • R48 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government Pricing and Policy
    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State

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