The CNMC urges Adif to communicate its works to operators in advance

MADRID, 22 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC) has imposed an obligation on Adif to inform train operators in advance about the maintenance works that it frequently carries out on the network in order to avoid last-minute changes in the travel schedules.

This has been resolved after a complaint filed by the Association of Private Railway Companies, from which the regulator has identified that Adif reports on capacity restrictions in advance and in less detail than that required by the regulations.

According to the European standard, for works that last more than seven days and affect more than 30% of the volume of daily traffic, the manager must communicate the information at least 24 months in advance about the change in service hours, and its update at least 12 months in advance.

However, Competition has verified that the railway companies only know the details of the scope of the capacity restrictions between two and three months before the start of the works, and that the affected paths are not rescheduled until just a few days before the start of the works. works, thus making it difficult for companies to offer alternative transportation plans to their customers.

For this reason, two months before the end of the term to request capacity by the railway companies, Adif must update the information on capacity restrictions during service hours, and they will consult it with the railway companies to try to limit their impact on the railway activity.

In addition, it must keep the catalog of temporary capacity restrictions up to date, as well as provide the details of the railway paths four months in advance of the start of the restrictions in the case of passenger services, and one month in advance in the case of passenger services. case of freight services.