Benelux Reform brings new op
Belgium’s railways have been no stranger to reform in recent years, and this month sees further change with the abolition of SNCB Holding. Keith Barrow looks at the impact of the reorganisation on infrastructure manager Infrabel.
T
HIS MONTH sees major changes in the organisation of Belgium’s railway industry with the
implementation of reforms that will abolish Belgian National Railways (SNCB) Holding and transfer all of its assets, liabilities, and activities to the state-owned train operator, SNCB, and infrastructure manager Infrabel. The group structure has been the subject of regular criticism in recent years, both from within the railway industry and externally. Politicians have questioned the value of retaining SNCB Holding, while the division of powers, operational inefficiencies, and duplication of functions between organisations have all fuelled the drive towards restructuring. There have also been concerns that the current structure would not comply with European Union (EU) regulations on the liberalisation of the railway sector and the full vertical separation of infrastructure and operations. Speaking at the European Rail
Congress in London last November, Infrabel CEO Mr Luc Lallemand noted that the previous rounds of railway reform in Belgium incurred considerable costs, both in studies and implementation; focused management on problems that are a low priority for the railway’s customers; and failed to bring the industry in line with European legislation. Furthermore, Lallemand argued there was a need to simplify the industry by clarifying roles, eliminating duplication (in some cases triplication) of processes, minimising the number of external interfaces, and avoiding conflicts of interest.
The legislation passed by parliament last year, and now being implemented,
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therefore has six key objectives: reduce the number of legal entities reduce duplication of functions simplify and clarify the role of each
entity and their operational responsibilities to improve the quality of service
maintain existing agreements with trade unions, and ensure staff support
for the new structure comply with relevant European
directives on liberalisation, and distribute financial debt fairly between SNCB and Infrabel and set a
IRJ January 2014
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