Rail Market Monitoring (RMMS)

In January 2021, the European Commission presented its seventh report on development of the rail market. The report covers a broad range of topics such as growth of the rail market, the infrastructure and services available, the state of the network, congestion, and barriers to more effective rail services.

While the report gives a high-level overview of the main developments, the full analysis is presented in the accompanying Commission Staff Working Document. Data and figures are also available in an Excel format.

Background

Monitoring the railway markets is necessary in order to inform policy choices, both at EU and national level. Since 2007, the Commission has collected data on rail market developments in Member States via RMMS Questionnaires. The data have been collected based on a 'gentlemen's agreement' which means that gaps in data availability are possible as well as methodological discrepancies. Nevertheless, relatively good response rates have allowed the Commission to publish the RMMS reports every two years since then.

The Recast of the first Rail package (Directive 2014/34/EU) finally created a legal base for RMMS reporting and data harmonisation. It's Article 15 states that the Commission shall make necessary arrangements to monitor technical and economic conditions and market developments in Union rail transport. This must include the use of networks as well as the evolution of framework conditions such as infrastructure charging, capacity allocation, investment in railway infrastructure, prices, quality of services, use of public service contracts, market opening, degree of harmonisation, licensing, employment and related social conditions. The Directive foresaw that the Commission may adopt measures to ensure consistency in the Member States' reporting obligations. The Commission itself shall report every two years to the European Parliament and the Council on the developments in rail markets.

Accordingly, in July 2015, after thorough consultation with Member States and stakeholders, the Commission adopted an implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1100 on the reporting obligations of the Member States in the framework of rail market monitoring. Since 2016, EU Member States and Norway have been providing input to the Commission’s monitoring of the rail market in line with the format and content defined in the Regulation.

Earlier RMMS Reports:

• The Sixth RMMS Report:
  • 6th Report to the European Parliament and the Council on monitoring development of the rail market
  • Accompanying Commission Staff Working Document
  • Package data and figures
  • Infographics
• The Fifth RMMS Report:
  • 5th report on monitoring development of the rail market
  • Accompanying Commission Staff Working Document
  • Data and figures
• The Fourth RMMS Report:
  • Report to the Council and the European Parliament on monitoring development of the rail market
  • Commission Staff Working Document
• The Third RMMS Report:
  • Report to the Council and the European Parliament on monitoring development of the rail market COM(2012)0459
  • Commission Staff Working Document
• The Second RMMS Report:
  • Report to the Council and the European Parliament on monitoring development of the rail market COM(2009)676 (as amended by the corrigendum adopted on 8 December 2010)
  • Commission Staff Working Document
• The First RMMS Report
  • Communication to the Council and the European Parliament on monitoring development of the rail market COM(2007) 609 .
  • Commission Staff Working Document

Legislation

DIRECTIVE 2012/34/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 21 November 2012 establishing a single European railway area

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2015/1100 of 7 July 2015 on the reporting obligations of the Member States in the framework of rail market monitoring

Data quality framework