Polish rail operators in subsidy row
State operator got preferential treatment, claim
Poland’s Independent Rail Operator’s Federation has lodged a formal complaint with the EC over alleged unfair state subsidies to state-owned operator PKP Cargo in the form of preferential infrastructure charges.
The complaint follows the introduction of new access track charges in Poland in December, which caused an outcry among smaller operators.
Rafa Milczarski, IROF president and Freightliner Poland CEO, explained: “Access charges have been significantly lowered for providers of lighter trains. They are, however, mainly exploited by PKP Cargo.
“For this state-controlled company, new tariffs bring more than a Zl 250m (US$87m) saving, a significant amount given PKP Cargo’s financial standing.
“Independent rail operators operate more effective and eco-friendly trains. As a consequence, new tariffs harm their competitive position, heavily increasing costs with no economic rationale behind it.”
The federation claimed that not only did the charges infringe EU law, they directly contradicted measures set out in the EC’s First Railway Package, which stipulates that “track access charges must be reviewed respective of freight efficiency”.
Krzysztof Sêdzikowski, CTL Logistics CEO and a member of the federation board, added: “The new charges give clear preference to “dispersed freight” services – that is, operating single or limited number of wagons.
“These kind of services are offered uniquely by PKP Cargo, which is due to the existing inefficient punctual infrastructure designed by PKP Cargo’s parent company.
“In other words, independent operators cannot enter the dispersed freight services market.”
The complaint follows the introduction of new access track charges in Poland in December, which caused an outcry among smaller operators.
Rafa Milczarski, IROF president and Freightliner Poland CEO, explained: “Access charges have been significantly lowered for providers of lighter trains. They are, however, mainly exploited by PKP Cargo.
“For this state-controlled company, new tariffs bring more than a Zl 250m (US$87m) saving, a significant amount given PKP Cargo’s financial standing.
“Independent rail operators operate more effective and eco-friendly trains. As a consequence, new tariffs harm their competitive position, heavily increasing costs with no economic rationale behind it.”
The federation claimed that not only did the charges infringe EU law, they directly contradicted measures set out in the EC’s First Railway Package, which stipulates that “track access charges must be reviewed respective of freight efficiency”.
Krzysztof Sêdzikowski, CTL Logistics CEO and a member of the federation board, added: “The new charges give clear preference to “dispersed freight” services – that is, operating single or limited number of wagons.
“These kind of services are offered uniquely by PKP Cargo, which is due to the existing inefficient punctual infrastructure designed by PKP Cargo’s parent company.
“In other words, independent operators cannot enter the dispersed freight services market.”
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