EU warns Netherlands over rail slot rules
The European Commission has warned the Netherlands that its rail slot allocation rules may breach EU antitrust law. Brussels said the current system could favour state-owned NS and hurt competition in international passenger services.
BRUSSELS: The European Commission said on Monday it has warned the Netherlands that the way train path slots are assigned on the country’s main rail network may violate European Union antitrust rules.
According to the Commission’s preliminary assessment, the Dutch system appears to favour state-owned rail operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen, a situation it said could weaken competition. The concern is focused particularly on international passenger rail services.
The Commission said it had sent a formal notice to the Dutch authorities, stating that the measures in question may strengthen NS’s dominant market position. It has also called on the Netherlands to take steps to improve competition in cross-border passenger rail travel.
The Dutch government has been given two months to reply to the EU’s notice, the Commission said.
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