‘Gather with international professionals in TAC’s to discuss a more transparent and fair system’

Stefan Marschnig
Graz University of Technology

At the 4th edition of the Track Access Charges Summit 2018 that took place 4-5 April in the Netherlands, industry leaders discussed TACs in great detail. Expert speakers of infrastructure managers, railway undertakings and vehicle producers presented their views, solutions and new insights on costs, mark-up and incentives of Track Access Charges.

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The Track Access Charges Summit 2018 offered a unique podium to discuss best practices, latest regulations, cost calculation methods and to share experience related to Track Access Charges.

All past four TAC conferences have been characterised by open and fruitful information and discussions. It increases one’s awareness of the importance of the track access charge topic hearing colleagues’ ideas and challenges. The financial flow between railway train operators and infrastructure manager is a major key to achieve technical sustainability and lowest possible system cost consequently.

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.

It seems that direct cost calculation still is kind of magic box comparing the values in different countries.
Additionally, mark-ups are everything else than harmonised. By simply looking at market segments identified by different IMs, it turns out that the new legal framework did not help to derive more uniform charges in the EU.

Themes

During this high-level conference, expert speakers informed the delegates about the latest developments on the following themes:

  • Direct costs
  • Mark-ups in limited market boundary condition
  • Integrated Time Tables – Regulation or Track Access Charges?
  • Incentive
  • The railway undertaking response on the new TAC

Programme Committee

Our programme managers ensured the review and preparation of a high-quality program with a variety of international speakers.

  • Dr. Stefan Marschnig – Graz University of Technology
  • Ivan Vidovic – Graz University of Technology
  • Drs. Ing. Julianne Wormsbecher – ProRail

Event Partner Track Access Charges Summit

Knowledge partners Track Access Charges Summit

Media partners Track Access Charges Summit

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