Stampa

NTV/RFI-ACCESSO AL NODO DI NAPOLI


PRESS RELEASE



PRESS RELEASE

RAIL TRANSPORT: ANTITRUST AUTHORITY OPENS INVESTIGATION INTO FERROVIE DELLO STATO AND RETE FERROVIARIA ITALIANA OVER ALLEGED ABUSE OF DOMINANT POSITION

The move follows complaint from Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori that the companies did not reply to a request for access to infrastructure

The Italian Competition Authority, at its meeting on 2 October 2008, decided to launch an investigation into the Ferrovie dello Stato [State Railways] Group and its subsidiary RFI, Rete Ferroviaria Italiana [Italian Railway Network] to determine whether they abused their dominant position in national markets for access to the railway infrastructure that is needed for rail passenger transport, and in particular high-speed passenger services.

The action, which was notified to the two companies during the course of inspections carried out in conjunction with the Special Branch of the Guardia di Finanza (Fiscal Police), was prompted by a complaint from NTV, Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori [New Passenger Transport].

The complaint claims that RFI adopted dilatory behaviour with respect to NTV's request for access to and use of the Maintenance and Technical Infrastructure Centre of the Dynamic Multifunctional facility within the Naples Complex and for access to space within passenger terminals.

The new company has plans to operate high-speed passenger rail services from 1 January 2011: to this end it made a timely request for access to infrastructure belonging to the FS Group.

The investigation must establish whether the conduct of the Ferrovie dello Stato Group, by way of its subsidiary RFI, Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, is unjustified and likely to prevent the entry of a new competitor into a market which has recently been liberalized, favouring its subsidiary Trenitalia to the detriment of end consumers.

The proceeding must be completed by 31 December 2009.

Rome, 6 October 2008