Patrizia Danioth is a lawyer and notary and has been President of RailCom since 2013. In this interview, she gives us an overview of RailCom’s tasks, her position on the draft legislation for freight transport and talks about the future mobility infrastructure (MODI).
That’s what it’s all about:
- RailCom ensures non-discriminatory access to the railway network
- Promotes competition in the railway system
- Supports the strengthening of the EWLV
- Access to data for greater transparency and innovation
Mrs Danioth, what is RailCom responsible for?
RailCom ensures non-discriminatory access to the railway network, CT transhipment facilities and local delivery services. In this way, RailCom contributes to a competitive Swiss railway system. RailCom also expresses its views on issues that fall within its remit as part of the legislative process. This is the case with the current draft legislation on the future of Swiss rail freight transport.
What is RailCom’s position on the current draft legislation on the future of Swiss rail freight transport? Where do you see a need for action?
RailCom supports the strengthening of single wagonload transport and the further development of multimodal transport chains. However, RailCom identifies two critical aspects in particular in the draft law on Swiss freight transport, which need to be regulated in a coherent manner with existing legislation.
What are the critical aspects? What requirements would the draft legislation have to fulfil in order to be consistent with existing legislation?
Firstly, the state subsidisation of single wagonload transport must be competition-neutral. Block train transport, which is self-sufficient, must not be cross-subsidised by the subsidised single wagonload transport. Such a distortion of competition must be prevented with the present draft law on Swiss freight transport. Be it that the provider of single wagonload transport makes a financial, legal and organisational separation between the self-economic services of block train transport and single wagonload transport. Be it that stricter requirements as well as control and sanction options effectively prevent cross-subsidisation.
The aim of the proposal is to promote an innovative offering in single wagonload transport with a high level of customer orientation. Fair framework conditions are essential for this.
Secondly, existing legislation in the railway sector and in freight transport stipulates that if a company receives financial support from the state, it must make its services or access to its facilities available to third parties on a non-discriminatory basis. Although the draft law on Swiss freight transport provides for non-discriminatory access to single wagonload transport services in principle, it does not yet sufficiently specify this requirement. This is shown by a comparison with the legislation on the promotion of CT transhipment facilities or the law on underground freight transport: For example, the legislator regulates the rights and obligations of the operators of CT transhipment facilities in more detail than those of the network provider in single wagonload transport.
With MODIG, a bill is being drafted to ensure that the infrastructure and services of public and private transport can be optimally operated and utilised thanks to a better flow of information. The mobility infrastructure (MODI) should one day enable the various players to be networked and data to be provided and exchanged. What does RailCom think of MODI?
Data and data exchange are an indispensable prerequisite for mobility. Alongside rail and other transport facilities, data therefore forms a system-relevant infrastructure. Data is also a prerequisite for the utilisation of infrastructure: Data that is relevant for access to the rail network, CT transhipment facilities and last-mile services, for example, must be available to all users in a transparent and user-friendly manner and be easy to find. The data must be made publicly accessible in a non-discriminatory manner, i.e. complete, correct and free of contradictions. MODI can make a significant contribution to this.
MODI and open data in general also strengthen non-discrimination through increased transparency, equal treatment and the possibility of third-party participation. Open data thus promotes economic efficiency and customer-orientation by strengthening competition. The potential for innovation in the sector is increased. The privately operated website www.puenktlichkeit.ch, for example, allows insightful comparisons to be made on the punctuality of trains.
Mrs Danioth, thank you very much for this interview!
