Does the rise of open access competition in Europe create a need for a new regulatory authority?

Laurent Guihéry and Lorenzo Freire--Stella

Chapter 8 in Challenges in Transport Regulation in Europe and Beyond, 2025, pp 143-162 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: To achieve the single European rail market, infrastructure improvements and competition are the cornerstones of European transport policy. In this framework, ‘open access’ competition has recently gained considerable importance, especially in the high-speed train market in Europe. Incumbent operators are crossing boundaries and operating in neighbouring countries, for example Trenitalia on the Paris–Lyon high speed-line, Ouigo SNCF in Spain and Renfe on the Lyon–Marseille–Barcelona route. These developments raise critical issues regarding profitability in a long-term perspective and anti-trust policy as a barrier to entry and discrimination. A race to the bottom in terms of price can prevent newcomers from entering the market and incumbent operators from making profits in foreign rail operations. Recent trends in both directions show the extreme fragility of open access competition. Could a European rail regulation agency be necessary to analyse these issues and propose solutions?

Keywords: High-speed rail; Open-access competition; Regulation; European Union; Barriers; New entrants (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035369157
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