Page 5 - Annual report - Araf 2014

OUR OPERATION, OUR MISSIONS, OUR ROLE
1
1. OUR MISSIONS AS A RAILWAY REGULATORY BODY
Independent from any political authority, we guarantee fair rail competition,
and we are in charge of controling
the inancial health of the French rail system’s.
WE ENSURE FAIR RAILWAY COMPETITION
Araf monitors the smooth operation of the railway transportation public service and competitive activities for the beneit of users, passengers and loaders.
WE APPROVE THE RAIL NETWORK STATEMENT (NS)
Réseau Ferré de France, which became SNCF Réseau (the infrastructure manager) since the entry into force of the railway reform on 1st January 2015, draws up a yearly document for the beneit
of railway undertakings. It details the technical, contractual and charging rules applicable to the French national railway network.
SNCF Réseau publishes the NS on its website one year prior to any given an- nual timetable, i.e. in December 2014 for the 2016 working timetable which comes into force in December 2015.
Araf issues a binding opinion on the charging framework of the network access charges; and reasoned opinions on the other NS terms. Moreover, since 1st January 2015, Araf issues a binding opinion on the charging framework for passenger stations and other service facilities (e.g. freight yards; maintenance facilities; sidings; fuel oil supply stations; combined rail/road transport sites).
Araf also issues a binding opinion on rail
security service charges («Suge» i.e. the French rail police).
WE SETTLE APPEALS BETWEEN RAILWAY STAKEHOLDERS
Araf receives appeals from railway undertakings, transport authorities, and infrastructure managers, on the exercise of their right of access to the railway network and its ancillary services. Araf is tasked with settling these disputes.
WE CONTROL FRENCH RAIL SYSTEM BUDGET
Pursuant to the railway reform legislation, Araf is now involved in controling the French railway debt. The regulator is tasked with publishing a reasoned opinion on the multi-annual performance contract between the State and SNCF Réseau as the infrastructure manager; on the budget of SNCF Réseau and on public subsidies for each investment project overseen by SNCF Réseau.
WE REGULATE INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER TRANSPORT
Rail passenger services between France and other European countries have been open to competition since the end of 2009. Araf controls these services and guarantees that they are mainly interna- tional services.
WE ASSESS THE ECONOMIC
IMPACT OF INTERNATIONAL RAIL PASSENGER TRANSPORT
Araf assesses whether an international passenger transport involving domestic stops in France jeopardizes the economic balance of an existing public service rail contract (regional and intercity passenger services)
ARAF LISTENS TO THE RAILWAY INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS
To sustain an open dialogue with
all railway industry stakeholders, Araf organises public consultations. Stakeholders are thus able to share their own perspective on various technical subjects. It is a means for the regulator to enrich the quality of its decisions and to lag up issues that had not been anticipated beforehand. In the autumn of 2014, Araf launched a public consultation on the ministerial decrees laying down the details of the railway reform legislation.
Read more page 18
5
Araf 2014 annual report