The European Parliament in its first reading adopted its report drafted by Gilles SAVARY (PES, France) on the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system. The Parliament noted the calender for the development of technical specifications for interoperability (TSIs) presented by the Commission. It called on the Commission pending the publication of TSIs, to ensure that new track is built according to uniform European standards as far as rails and electrification systems are concerned. The Parliament stressed the role played by the travelling personnel and called for measures to raise the level of knowledge of railway personnel involved with interoperability. It called on the Commission in its next report on the implementation of Directive 96/48/EC to present proposals particularly on setting an order of priorities and a calender laying down social provisions.�