LEGAL STATUS OF PUBLIC RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE

Zgodovinsko so države članice Evropske unije samostojno regulirale delovanje prevozniških storitev v železniškem prometu. Organizacijsko so bila podjetja, ki so izvajala storitve na področju železniških prevozov, gradnje in vzdrževanja železniške infrastrukture, konstituirana kot enovite, vertikalno integrirane družbe. Trg na področju železniškega prometa je bil urejen monopolno, storitve v železniškem prometu pa so opravljali lastniki železniškega omrežja. V obdobju po letu 1991 je prišlo do deregulacije trga železniških storitev. Direktiva Sveta 91/440/EGS z dne 29. julija 1991 o razvoju železniških podjetij Skupnosti je posegla v klasično ureditev na nivoju držav članic Evropske unije in na novo definirala razmerja med lastniki javne železniške infrastrukture in podjetji, ki izvajajo prevoze po tirih. Zahtevana je bila jasna delitev med lastnikom infrastrukture, upravljavcem in prevoznimi podjetji, zlasti z namenom omejevanja monopola obratovanja prevozniških železniških družb. Deregulacija je sprožila vrsto posledic za mednarodno pravo na področju regulacije železniškega sektorja, predvsem v smislu prostega dostopa do infrastrukture držav članic in zagotavljanja nemotenega in preko mejnega izvajanja železniških prevoznih storitev. Bistvo ureditve je zagotavljanje prostega dostopa do železniške infrastrukture na področju Evropske unije za vse železniške družbe, ki izpolnjujejo zakonske pogoje. Dostop je urejen z medsebojnimi pravnimi obvezami med prevoznikom in upravljavcem infrastrukture in pogojen s plačilom uporabnine, ki je namenjena kritju dela stroškov vzdrževanja in vodenja prometa.Historically, the European Union Member States individually regulated the operation of the transport service by rail. Companies that have implemented services in the field of railway transport, construction and maintenance of infrastructure ware constituted as a homogenous enterprises, vertically intergrated. Consequently, the market for rail transport was dominated by monopoly, established by rail owners of the rail network. Deregulation of the market for railway services is in progress since 1991. Council Directive 91/440/EGS of 29 July 1991 on the development of railway undertakings in the Community has intervened in the classical arrangements at the level of the Member States of the European Union and redefined the relationship between the owners of public infrastructure and railway undertakings. A clear division between the owners of infrastructure, infrastructure managers and transport companies was mandated, in particular with a view to limiting the monopoly operation of railway haulage companies. Deregulation has series of consequences for international law in the field of regulation of the rail sector, in particular in terms of free access to the infrastructure of the Member States and ensuring the smooth implementation cross border railway traffic. The essence of the scheme is to provide access to railway infrastructure in the European Union for all railway companies which meet the legal conditions. Access is regulated by the Mutual obligations between operators and infrastructure managers and subject to the payment of charges, which is intended to cover part of the cost of maintenance and traffic management