Connexxion and ProRail settle dispute following NMa intervention

Passenger transport company Connexxion and railway operator ProRail have settled their dispute on the issue of drawing up the 2008 schedule for railway maintenance. Two weeks ago, Connexxion submitted a complaint with the Office of Transport Regulation of the Netherlands Competition Authority (NMa) on ProRail's planning of railway maintenance works in the coming year. Following the definitive allocation of capacity on 22 October 2007, Connexxion feared that due to faulty allocation certain trains services would have to be cancelled because of railway maintenance works, relevant particularly to service in the early hours of the day and late at night.

During the hearing called by the NMa, which took place on Wednesday 5 December 2007, ProRail proposed a solution allowing Conexxion to run its services in accordance with the definitive allocation of capacity, whilst there would remain sufficient capacity for maintenance works also. On the basis of the proposal, parties have reached agreement and Connexxion has in the meantime signed the access agreement for 2008. This means that Connexxion now has the capacity required to implement its timetable for 2008.


Syntus and the Netherlands Railways [Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)] have also submitted a complaint with the NMa with regard to ProRail. The complaint is currently being dealt with by the regulator.