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An important step has been taken to make SNCB the sole operator of passenger rail transport for 10 years, according to Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo).
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The federal government agreement provides for giving a central role to rail and, in this context, not to subject SNCB to competition from other passenger transport operators. To do this, Belgium must comply with a whole European procedure.
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On Friday, the Council of Ministers thus took note of the act of publication in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), Belgium’s intention to award the public service contract directly to SNCB. This publication was to take place one year before the actual award, which is scheduled for the end of 2022 at the latest.
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“The step accomplished today is important, because it is launching this formal procedure for the confirmation of the status of single rail operator at SNCB for the next 10 years, sign of the federal government’s confidence in the incumbent operator“, commented the minister in a press release.
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Negotiations are underway between the federal government, SNCB and Infrabel with a view to concluding a new public service contract for SNCB and a performance contract for Infrabel.
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