EUROPEAN METROPOLITAN TRANSPORT AUTHORITIES July 2006 - n° 25 News from Europe G Political agreement on the revised approve the modifications of the text • A methodology for smart charging for proposal for a regulation of PSO in adopted by the Council compared to the infrastructure (2008) public transport initial version of the Commission: The new • The start of Galileo concession (2009) The Council reached a political agreement text takes better in account remarks made on the revised proposal for a regulation on by most of public transport actors regarding Urban transport seems to be better taken in public service obligations for passenger the restrictive definition of internal operators, account compared to the 2001 White Paper transport services by rail and by road, publi- their strict geographical containment or the (see EMTA position on the mid-term review shed by EU Commission on 20 July 2005. maximum duration for contracts including on our website) and EMTA looks forward to The text as agreed will be adopted as a construction of infrastructures. EMTA position contribute to the 2007 Green Paper. common position at a forthcoming Council on the Commission’s proposal is available on ec.europa.eu/transport/transport_policy_revie session under Finnish Presidency and sent to EMTA website, section publications. w/index_en.htm the European Parliament with a view of the www.consilium.europa.eu second reading next Autumn. www.emta.com/article.php3?id_article=270 G Results of the pilot program on hydrogen-fuel cell buses The public service obligations proposal aims The EU Commission presented on 11 May at establishing a new legislative framework G New orientation for EU Transport the results of a pilot programme launched in for the increasingly open and competitive Policy 2003 that powered 27 hydrogen-fuel cell European market for public passenger The European Commission adopted on 22 public buses in 9 European cities. transport services (see EMTA News June the orientation for the future EU trans- port policy. The objective of mobility growth Called "Clean Urban Transport for Europe" n°22, Analysis). The political agreement (CUTE), the project has helped cast light contains arrangements for those interven- control and modal shift from road and air to rail and waterborne modes described in the on the viability of this emissions-free tions of competent authorities that most transportation means. likely affect competition and trade between 2001 White Paper has been replaced by an objective to offer the necessary level of The small-scale CUTE experiment shows that Member States: compensating costs and improvements are still needed in areas such as: granting exclusive rights in return for the mobility to people and business while reducing discharge of public service obligations. its external negative effects. The EU will then • Design, construction and operation of continue to boost rail and waterways for safe hydrogen supply chains and The Council reached the political agreement long distance connections but will also step refuelling stations; up its efforts to make road transport and after a final compromise proposal of the • Efficient production and use of aviation more efficient and cleaner by using Presidency consisting of the following elements: hydrogen; green propulsion and intelligent transport • competent authorities may decide to systems which use the latest technologies. • Infrastructure optimisation directly award contracts for all heavy The paper introduces the concept of Against this backdrop, the Commission has rail, including (sub)urban rail but exclu- co-modality which is an efficient use for launched a new "Hydrogen for Transport" ding metro and tramways. different modes on their own and in combi- initiative to track the performance of 200 • authorities can choose to grant direct nation for an optimal and sustainable hydrogen-powered vehicles during the next awards to small and medium sized utilisation of resources. three years. Relying on a ?105 million enterprises under a threshold, of either public-private investment - of which the an average annual value The communication describes a wide range European Commission will contribute ?48 • measures obliging authorities to give of themes to reach these objectives, including: million, the series of demonstration projects information and a motivation for their • Smart charging that will contribute to will target buses, passenger cars, scooters decisions to directly award contracts a more rational use of infrastructure. and wheel chairs in both European and non-European cities (Beijing, Perth and • a contract length in case of directly • Security and safety improvements in Reykjavik). awarded contracts for rail of 10 years various modes, in particular in order to half the number of people killed on EU www.fuel-cell-bus-club.com G www.europa.eu • the possibility for competent authorities roads between 2001 and 2010. to refuse operators under certain conditions from participating in the • Protection of passenger rights, most G EEA underlines the link between tenders they organise notably in all transport modes for climate change battle and air quality people with limited mobility. • a date of entry intro force of 3 years improvement after the publication in the Official • Energy consumption and oil consump- The EU Thematic Strategy on air pollution Journal of the EU and a transition tion in order to reduce oil dependence aims to improve European air pollution period of 12 years, allowing the public and make transport more sustainable. significantly by 2020. The European passenger transport sector in total 15 Environment Agency (EEA) has analysed A detailed calendar of actions is proposed, improvement prospects for a further ten years to adapt to the new regime. among which: year period, also integrating climate change EMTA members agree with the principle of • An action plan for energy efficiency instruments as an intervening variable. adopting a common framework with a and a road map for renewables (2006) minimum content, provided that it secures To receive this the funding of local public transport and • A green paper of urban transport (2007) newsletter by e-mail: therefore welcome favourably this very • A strategy for land and public transport [email protected] expected political agreement. EMTA members security (2007) In a report published on June 1st, the Agency scenario can be attenuated, if not avoided, would lead to a decrease of premature stresses the positive side-effect of climate by EU efforts to meet meeting its long-term deaths due to ozone and fine particles by change policies on the effectiveness of EU climate change objectives consisting in over 20 000 per year by 2030 and would existing air pollution abatement. Whereas limiting to the global mean temperature save ?16-46 billion per year in health costs. these measures are supposed to produce increase to 2°C above current levels. Such benefits would be more significant in cleaner air in 2030 compared to 2000, the The so-called climate action scenario would 2030 than in 2020, the report notes, since a situation is expected to decline after 2020, have major impacts on pollutants emissions longer period of time would be available for thus causing 311 000 premature death each such as oxides of nitrogen (NOx), sulphur implementing long term measures. year in 2030 in a reference scenario. This dioxide (SO2) and particles. This scenario www.eea.eu.int News from the cities G Brussels Capital Region updates its G New franchise for Docklands Light G New central station inaugurated in Berlin mobility plan Railway in London The new Berlin Hauptbahnhof opened on The regional mobility plan, also called “Plan A new £400 million (?585 million) franchise 28 May, few days before the beginning of Iris” was adopted by the Government of for operating and maintaining the the Soccer World Cup 2006. With this new Brussels Capital Region in October 1998 and Docklands Light Railway (DLR) has been station, the whole rail network has been is currently being updated. Mobility experts awarded by Transport for London to Serco reorganised allowing new connections and have estimated the impacts in 2015 of a Docklands. Serco, the incumbent operator huge time savings. In the past, the structure “do-nothing” scenario: for nine years will continue its activities for of the network was based on an east-west > 5% increase of mechanised trips seven extra years starting May 2006 with corridor and a 120-kilometre long circle > decreasing average speed for cars new targets for train punctuality, customer around the metropolitan area. Trains coming > permanent congestion of roads service and security: from the North or the South had to take the ring to reach the east-west axis and then > increase of CO2 emissions by 22% • At least 96% of trains must run “on time” (ie within 3 minutes of the scheduled time) enter the city. A new 42-kilometre North- and with no more than 2% of trains South link, including a 3.5 kilometre tunnel, cancelled per day allows more direct routes to the central station (see maps below). • At least 90% of passengers must be “satisfied” with the train service - as mea- Past situation sured by regular customer satisfaction surveys • Improved security on stations and trains with enhanced CCTV, increased staff presence at high-profile stations and 12 new dedicated 'Travel Safe Officers' • Better passenger real time information on To avoid this situation a set of ten measures board and in stations innovative informa- has been proposed by the Ministry of the tion systems. Reion Brussels Capital, the public authority in charge of mobility. Serco was originally awarded the franchise to operate and maintain the DLR in April 1. Major investments in infrastructure: 1997, and since then has seen more than a metro extension New situation 100% growth in passenger figures, from 25 2. Major investments in infrastructure: to 50 million per year. Patronage in 2009 is development of the suburban train expected to reach 80 million journeys.