EIM/EFRTC Working Together for Improved Market-Access Jean-Marie BERTRAND EIM Chairman RFF, Director General www.eimrail.org

EIM Membership = EU independent infrastructure managers Denmark Finland France The Netherlands Portugal Slovenia Spain Sweden United Kingdom Norway Our membership constitutes: 43% of the entire EU-25 rail network 49% of passenger traffic 32% of freight traffic

Our Objectives As European Infrastructure Managers Promoting international rail-freight transport & a high -performance European network for passengers Establishing a Trans-European Rail Network (TEN), accessible and simple to use Operating under affordable economic conditions, without jeopardising the economic balance of rail services Cost control remains a critical issue

Growing Costs: an Economic Challenge for the Rail Sector Infrastructure costs form a major part of European railway expenditure Reasons for this include: Environmental constraints (eg, noise reduction) Speed Safety New Technology (ETCS-GSM-R …) - shorter life cycles - require highly skilled maintenance personnel - weak systems - duplication of systems Specificity of rail infrastructure standards

Outsourcing and Cost Control: Feedback from UK and Sweden Discussed in the EIM/EFRTC Conference 2005 Outsourcing requires a clear contractual arrangement between IMs and contractors. When outsourcing, the company must retain sufficient skills, and sufficient knowledge about the condition of its assets, to set clear specifications for what it wants to buy. It is important to align objectives and create financial incentives for lasting partnership. Appropriate contractual frameworks can ensure that objectives start and remain aligned.

Working Jointly to Reduce Costs and Improve Value: a Win-Win Situation Two main objectives: Encouraging competition and creating new opportunities for suppliers Denationalizing markets and standardising products :lowering national barriers. Possible approaches for implementation: making optimal use of technology benchmarking harmonisation of procurement processes harmonisation of contractor qualifications

1st Step of our cooperation: collecting and sharing information RIMARE joint project RIMARE is expected to be financed by the European Commission via the funds for “general studies”. RIMARE is addressing supply-chain optimisation, contracting strategies, open standards and market access, supply-chain management processes and work-practice efficiency.

What could the 2nd step be? Should we wait for the outcome of RIMARE and address in an integrated manner those items that show greatest economic potential? Should we work on common technical specifications? This raises a number of questions that need to be addressed and reflected upon: should we set up a specific working group?

Thank you for your attention & your feedback on our proposals.