In line with the rules on access to railway infrastructure, combined transport services and international services set out in Council Directive 91/440/EEC, this proposal sought to set common conditions of access to those structures via a system of operating licences granted on the basis of common criteria. In addition to the general imperatives of professional competence, railway undertakings had to be able to cover their liability in the event of accidents and comply with international agreements and conventions on the carriage of passengers and goods. Member States would be able to impose a number of further demands under Community law, essentially technical ones. The licence could be general or cover just certain types of service. The licence would not confer an automatic right of access to railway infrastructure, this being conditional on the holding of a safety certificate and a commercial agreement with the infrastructure manager.
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