Italy Becomes CEUTP’s Next Stop on the Path to Rail Market Liberalisation: TAIEX-REGIO Study Visit in Rome

This time, in cooperation with the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Polish experts will deepen their knowledge on the crucial aspects of Public Service Contract (PSC) organisation, rolling stock financing, and collaboration with the Infrastructure Manager within a liberalised rail market.

The visit to Rome marks the next phase in the preparations by CEUTP, acting on behalf of the Polish Ministry of Infrastructure, for the full implementation of the EU’s 4th Railway Package and the opening of the Polish market to competition in long-distance and international rail passenger transport by 2030.

The main goal of the three-day exchange is to acquire Italian know-how, particularly in areas that present the greatest regulatory and organisational challenges in Poland.

PSC Organisation and Competitive Tendering

The first day will be dedicated to the legal framework, the organisation of the Italian rail system, and the role of competent authorities at central and regional levels. A key focus will be a detailed analysis of a competitive tendering case study for regional services, including an example from the Lombardy region. Italian experience will provide insights into how to design open and non-discriminatory tendering procedures, which is a key objective of the TAIEX project.

Economic Aspects: Rolling Stock and Financing

The second day will concentrate on the economic dimensions of contracting public services. Experts from Italian institutions will discuss the financial sustainability and economic performance of rail services, as well as the critical issue of financing investments in rolling stock. Furthermore, the discussions will cover Italy’s experience in managing tariff and ticket integration, which directly impacts passenger comfort and service accessibility.

Role of the Infrastructure Manager and Big Data

The final day of the visit will focus on cooperation with the Railway Infrastructure Manager (IM). Italian experts will present the model of cooperation between the IM, competent authorities, and operators, particularly concerning the preparation of capacity offers and annual timetables. Discussions will also include issues related to Big Data management, including data transfer concerning planned investments, maintenance work, and the potential for data exchange at the level of transport models.

The conclusions drawn from the study visit in Italy will supplement the knowledge gained during the previous exchange in Sweden and contribute to building solid institutional frameworks and effective mechanisms for monitoring and managing PSCs, which CEUTP will implement in Poland.