Safety on the Community's railways (Railway Safety Directive)

The Committee on Transport and Tourism adopted a report drafted by Paolo COSTA (ALDE IT), recommending some amendments to the Council's common position for adopting a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2004/49/EC on safety on the Community's railways (Railway Safety Directive). It reinserted some amendments that had not been taken up by the Council in its common position, particularly with regard to a mandatory maintenance certification system.

The main amendments are as follows:

Heritage and museum railways: in order to remain consistent with the Parliament's 1st reading position on the railway interoperability directive, it must be made clear that heritage and museum railways are exempt from this directive provided they comply with national safety rules or are operating on their own network.

CSTs: before drafting or revising CSTs, a cost-benefit analysis must demonstrate that the expected effects of the development of CSTs shall improve the level of transport safety and the optimum use of the railway system.

Mandatory maintenance certification: the Commission shall, at the latest one year after the entry into force of the Directive, adopt a measure establishing mandatory certification of the entity in charge of maintenance with regard to its maintenance system. The Agency shall evaluate the mandatory certification process by submitting a report to the Commission, no later than three years after the entry into force of the relevant measure.