Regulation requires competence
Both passengers and railway-companies benefit from a well-functioning competitive rail market. The prerequisite for this is a strong regulatory body with in-depth market knowledge, who oversees fair access to the rail infrastructure at reasonable prices and enforces compliance when necessary.
In Austria, a dual regulatory authority was established through the Schienen-Control.
The Schienen-Control GmbH handles daily operations and serves as a competent point of contact for railway companies, institutions, and public authorities. It supports the Schienen-Control Commission, which acts as an independent administrative authority with a judicial chair, issuing binding decisions.
With the 2006 Railway Law Amendment, which came into effect on July 27th of the same year, Schienen-Control GmbH assumed the role of an independent arbitration body for customers of railway companies in both freight and passenger transport, in accordance with § 78a of the Railway Act (EisbG).
As of May 28, 2015, the former railway arbitration body was integrated into the newly established Agency for Passenger Rights (apf), which now covers multiple modes of transport. This new central service office also incorporated the arbitration body for air passenger rights, previously housed within the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation, and Technology (BMK). New arbitration bodies for bus and waterborne transport were also added. The BMK’s service office, now part of Schienen-Control GmbH, helps rail, bus, ship, and air passengers assert their rights in disputes with companies.
A skilled team efficiently manages these extensive tasks. To fulfill its statutory mandate, Schienen-Control GmbH is organized into the following departments, alongside the Agency for Passenger and Traveller Rights:
- Charges
- Finances
- International Relations
- Communication
- Markt Monitoring
- Access to Railway-Infrastructure
- Legal