The deputies sent the Act on Rail to the next discussion round

“One of our targets concerning railway is to further enhance its safety and improve the conditions of rail transport on the European market. The draft amendment to Act on Rail will help to achieve this goal. The draft includes provisions amending a monitoring of time designated for driving a rail vehicle on national or regional rail, which will make the inspections of compliance with the rules amending the length of work shift and time designated for driving a rail vehicle in international transport more effective”, explains the minister of transport Karel Havlíček.

The main goal of the amended act is to transpose the European directives, i.e. Directive (EU) 2016/797 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on the interoperability of the rail system within the European Union and Directive (EU) 2016/798 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on railway safety. These directives focus on interoperability of railway in the European area and its safety. Both directives fall under the technical pillar of a fourth railway package. The aim is to set comprehensive and clear conditions for interoperability of railway system in the European Union, promote development of railway transport services in the EU and complete a single European railway area.

The draft amendment will set basic conditions and rules for operational and technical connectivity of national and regional railways as well as other Member States’ railways and rail vehicles operated on them. It defines for example new conditions for opening a rail or making rail vehicles market-ready. It also anticipates gradual transition from national rail vehicles register to central register (managed by the European Union) according to the EU law in 2024.

After the first reading, the amended act will be discussed in committees and then in a second reading. The entire legislative process should be finished by the end of the parliamentary term.