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2007-03-10

Annual report 2006

Introduction

In 2006 our Federation continued to receive applications for membership so that we enter 2007 with 24 members in 15 European countries and one associate member. It is especially encouraging that we now have representatives of rail travellers in Bulgaria and of bus customers in the United Kingdom; and also an association of British travel agents.

Our Annual Conference in Maastricht (Netherlands) attracted 75 participants - our largest gathering up to now. Our Administrative Council met in Basle, Brussels and, for the first time, Berlin. The officers also had an administrative meeting in Brussels.

Activities

  1. We sent our comments on the rights of maritime passengers to the European Commission, stressing that the operating conditions for boat, train, bus and airline operators should be the same. The Commission has expressed its appreciation of our input.
  2. Our dialogue at Brussels continues with letters, e-mails and meetings with the European Commission, the Community of European Railways, the International Union of Public Transport and the association European Infrastructure Managers. As far as the Commission is concerned, our most regular contacts are with DG TREN (Transport & Energy) but we have also had some with DG Comm (Communications) on the subject of their brochure "Travel in Europe".
  3. We are participating in the work of the research institute ERRAC and the European Rail Agency and it is here that encouraging progress is being made in the field of TSI, which should lead to better ticketing and information systems.
  4. Our co-operation with the NEXUS institute in Berlin has continued, especially by giving responses from each country on the matter of consultation with public transport customers.
  5. We appreciate our regular contacts with the CIT in Berne.
  6. EPF has been invited to send speakers to events in Bruges, Bucharest and (in spring 2007) Helsinki. If we had more financial resources, we could take part in more international gatherings in Europe.
  7. Our meetings with the international operators Eurostar and Thalys have again been productive.
  8. Our report on cross-border trains (and sometimes buses) has made remarkable progress, thanks especially to the information and comments provided by colleagues from many countries, and we intend to publish it in the summer of 2007.
  9. Our website has continued to develop and is now at www.epf.eu.
  10. A colloquium was organised in Karlsruhe for in-depth discussion of the problems of long-distance rail travel.
  11. We have devoted more time and effort to expressing the passengers' viewpoint to Members of the European Parliament.
  12. We co-operated with the European consumers' organisation BEUC and three other international federations to respond to a European Commission call for bids to establish a Passengers' Network. A broad and inclusive consortium was assembled, which would be able to study and advise on the problems facing travellers. Although the Commission ultimately judged the project to be "non-priority", it is our intention to build upon these contacts and to work with them to develop the voice of all public transport customers.

Topics

  1. "There is still work to be done to make cross-border trains more convenient." This is what we wrote in our 2005 report. It is still the case, but there have been some small successes which give us hope. The German Mandaubahn trains have since June also been serving the Czech town of Varnsdorf. The reopening to passengers of the line from Virton to Athus has improved links between this part of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Delays to long-distance trains at the Bulgarian / Serbian border, which were causing us concern, were overcome in December. These are examples that can be followed elsewhere.
  2. This year will see the opening of the high speed line from Paris to Strasbourg and the second section of the high speed line from London to the Channel Tunnel. But stations such as Ebbsfleet and Meuse TGV, which are largely aimed at motorists, will also be opened. The section of high speed line just opened in Spain has a similar case - Camp de Tarragona. Of course, there are customers who have no alternative other than to use their cars to reach the station. But when there is an actual or potential alternative - a regional train, comfortable bus or modern tram - it should be encouraged and integrated with the high speed trains.
  3. We regret the withdrawal of the high speed ferry between Harwich and the Hook of Holland, victim to some extent of the unequal competition between modes of transport. A ship should not just be for motorists. It is often a link in a multi-modal chain and should be integrated with trains. We have expressed these opinions in correspondence with train and ferry operators.
  4. Is there still a role for night trains? We think so, even if the development of high speed lines has changed the market. We are putting together ideas and considering the criteria. We hope to produce a report after completing our cross-border project.
  5. Privatisation? Our manifesto does not take sides for or against. But it is necessary to study the experiences of countries where the private sector plays a role, in order to learn lessons or avoid mistakes. I was invited by our French colleagues to describe the British experience in this respect and a very interesting discussion has taken place.
  6. Passengers' rights are now on the agenda not just of the European Commission but also of the CER and UITP. Both have produced customer charters. We are not totally satisfied with these, but they form a starting point which it should be possible to develop.

Conclusion

We have much to do. But we are stronger than we were 12 months ago. Moreover, EPF is more than just its Council. It is the sum total of its member associations in which there are many individuals with interests and expertise. Within this number are several who already assist us and we have established an electronic grouping epf-list-plus to inform them and stimulate debate. We have the enthusiasm, experience and knowledge, but we also need more financial resources so that we fulfil our potential as the well-informed voice of public transport users.

Trevor Garrod
Chairman