“Learn how Track Access Charges can reduce the costs of railway operations.“
Stefan Marschnig
Graz University of Technology
The latest EU directives and implementing regulations for Track Access Charges (TAC) aim to reduce the costs of railway operations and to harmonize TAC’s throughout Europe. The use of track-friendly rolling stock is stimulated through lower TAC’s which result in lower overall transport costs essential to competing with other transport modalities. At the TAC Summit 2016 in Bern you will learn about the new directives using the SBB Swiss Wear Factor as real-life example. Expert speakers from companies including DB, OBB and Bombardier will present their views and solutions. You will meet other TAC professionals and will be able to share your experience at this high-level conference.
The recast of the first railway package (directive 2012/34) and the attached implementing regulation (2015/909) came up with new rules for setting track access charges (TACs).
Harmonization
The strict separation between direct costs and mark-ups is specifically addressed. This may lead to a harmonization of TACs throughout Europe, as the direct costs of a train run (wear and tear based costs) shouldn’t differ significantly from infrastructure manager to infrastructure manager. Furthermore, the implementing regulation gives room for many more detailed, vehicle based charges.
Reviewing of track access charges
Alongside the possibility of focusing on damage processes in the interaction of vehicle and track, this could be used for incentivising track-friendly vehicle technologies which could lead to lower overall system costs and, therefore, improved competition within the transport mode railway.
Setting mark-ups should be seen in the context of both the competitiveness of the railway transport services in the inter-modal competition, and of the infrastructure manager’s financial situation. Public infrastructure funding plays a major role, and could change the question of ‘what the market can bear’ to ‘what the market has to bear’. The regulator’s position has changed substantially in favour of the new regulation when it comes to TACs. The detailed reviewing of track access charges could help to increase transparency, and might also lead to fewer complaints in the future.
Industry leadership
At the TAC Summit 2016 industry leaders will discuss TACs in great detail, and will highlight the different points of views of infrastructure managers, railway undertakings, and vehicle producers. As previous Track Access Charges conferences in 2011 and 2013 have shown, it is worth making the effort to debate this topic at a European, system-wide level.
I am looking forward to seeing you in Bern.
Stefan Marschnig, Assistant Professor – Graz University of Technology
Conference Programme
The Track Access Charges Summit offers a unique podium to discuss best practices, latest regulations, cost calculation methods and to share experience related to Track Access Charges.
Graz University of Technology has carefully created the following programme:
Chairman of the day: Stefan Marschnig, Assistant Professor – Graz University of Technology
Session 1: Wear based vehicle charging
This session will answer the following questions:
- How will Switzerland change TAC’s in 2017?
- Why should track asset managers support wear-based, vehicle-specific charges?
- How can asset managers use knowledge of track deterioration models for their daily business?
Stefan Sommer, Head of Track – SBB
Welcome and introduction
Keynote: Stefan Marschnig, Assistent Professor – Graz University of Technology
Costs directly incurred by a train run- Markus Giger, Head of Section – Federal Office of Transport, Section Rail Network
The new Track Access Charging scheme in Switzerland
Read abstract - Jochen Holzfeind, Head of Asset Management Track – SBB
Wear factor – From the railway track’s point of view
Read abstract
Session 2: Wear based vehicle charging
This session will answer the following questions:
- How will the wear factor influence future vehicle concepts?
- How will the wear-factor support train operating companies to purchase track-friendly vehicles?
- Why do we need an integral methodology for assessing the cost impact of innovative vehicle technology? What part do TACs play in such a methodology?
- Stephan Schenk, Head of Contracts & Train Path Sales – SBB
Wear factor – How to charge it
Read abstract - Richard Schneider, Vice President R&D- Bombardier Transportation
Wear factor – From the vehicle’s producer’s point
Read abstract - Alfred Pitnik, Head of International Affairs – Rail Cargo Group
Wear factor – From the railway undertakers point of view
Read abstract 
Juan Melendez, Director of Transport and Energy Division, CEIT
ROLL2RAIL Running Gear – Opportunities for reduction of the railway system costs
Read abstract
Session 3: Assessing direct costs
This session will answer the following questions:
- What is the basic idea of direct cost / marginal cost based charging? Why there is discussion all over Europe on what cost positions might be included in the direct costs?
- How were direct cost evaluated in France?
- Between direct and full cost: how much money does the infrastructure manager need?
Frank Jost, Policy Officer – European Commission
The direct costs of infrastructure use
Read abstract
Miguel Amaral, Head of Regulation of Rail Infrastructure Managers Unit – French Railway Regulatory Body (ARAF)
Direct cost calculation in France
Read abstract
Justina Hudenko, CFO – LatRailNet
How much money is needed?
Read abstract
Session 4: Establishing mark-ups – sharing experiences
This session will answer the following questions:
- If mark-ups are needed – how should they be calculated?
- How did DB Netz established mark-ups for different market segments?
- Will TACs be harmonised and transparent in 2019 or – still – disperse and irreproducible throughout the European Union?
Chris Nash, Research Professor – University of Leeds
Setting economically efficient mark-ups
Read abstract
Wolfram Merzyn, Senior Project Manager train path pricing system – DB Netz AG
Establishing mark-ups requested
Read abstract- Stefan Tobias, Senior Economist – Community of European Railways (CER)
Do we need transparency and harmonisation of TAC?
Read abstract - Stefan Marschnig, Assistent Professor – Graz University of Technology
Summary and Outlook