Railways are the backbone of a sustainable transport system. For 20 years the Europe’s railway sector has been undergoing constant reforms and restructuring – partly imposed by EU legislation, partly by national governments or company decisions. With the adoption of the 4th Railway Package the EU railway market is now fully liberalised. Competition brings new actors and new business models to the sector, increasing fragmentation. The creation of a Single European Railway Area facilitates cross-border operations and activities. But we see that the liberalisation of the rail freight market, completed in 2006, has not brought more freight transport onto the rails.
In this environment the ETF Railways Section fights social dumping and works to assure railway safety in this open, competitive and fragmented rail market. The ETF is a key actor when it comes to railway policy and promoting railways for the benefit of workers, passengers and the environment.