Unions urge EU transport ministers to reject rail plan

European Union transport ministers were today under pressure from unions to reject plans to open up national passenger rail services to competition.

More than 3,000 railway workers from across the 25-nation bloc were expected to protest against liberalisation at Brussels’ largest Midi-South railway station, setting up an information picket for passengers boarding international trains to France and Britain, union officials said.

The unions fear liberalisation will mean public services in many EU countries will be cut back due to increased competition.

EU transport ministers will try to agree to a compromise which could see passenger rail services opened up by 2008, giving the right to international rail companies to move passengers within other member states.

The railway legislation package also calls for minimum standards on compensation for passengers who experience delays on domestic and international routes and a system of EU certificates for train crews to show they meet professional, medical and linguistic standards.