CLECAT — 2025-10-03
News from Brussels
The Danish Council Presidency is aiming to hold the next trilogue on the Rail Infrastructure Capacity Management Regulation on 18 November, which could prove decisive. According to several sources close to the talks, the Presidency has been advancing at a good pace since taking over the file, tabling a series of compromise proposals. While important progress has already been made under both the Polish and Danish Presidencies, key political questions remain open, notably on penalty regimes and the calendar for capacity management in cases of works. Optimism prevails among negotiators in both the Council and the European Parliament that a final agreement could be struck at the upcoming trilogue.
The UIIR has renewed its call for stronger safeguards for freight operators by publishing recommendations to ensure that the final compromise provides freight with a fairer share of capacity and greater predictability. UIIR points in particular to the need for stronger guarantees on bypass capacity during works, clear advance notice of train path changes, fair compensation for rerouting, and a methodology that integrates socio-economic and environmental factors into capacity decisions.
CLECAT supports the rail freight protections advocated by the UIIR and stresses that the regulation must deliver tangible improvements. With trilogue talks approaching their conclusion, CLECAT notes that the outcome will shape whether rail becomes a more reliable and competitive option.