OREANDA-NEWS. September 14, 2011. The Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the Sverdlovsk Region (Sverdlovsk OFAS Russia) fined “Russian Railways” OJSC over 157 million Rubles, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia. 

Earlier the Commission of Sverdlovsk OFAS Russia found that “Russian Railways” OJSC, as part of the group of persons with “Federal Passenger Company” OJSC violated Part 3 Article 11 and Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”.

“Russian Railways” OJSC violated the law by coordinating economic activities of organisations, authorised by the carrier, for issuing railway tickets. The company devised and used a standard agreement form, which led to fixing prices for passenger transportation by railway transport in general use and related services at the level non-regulated by the Federal Tariff Service.

Also “Russian Railways” OJSC imposed disadvantageous conditions of a contract for issuing railway tickets upon its counteragent (“Surguttransagenstvo” OJSC) by including conditions for payment for the services that “Surguttransagenstvo” OJSC did not need and the costs of which are included the tariffs and charges for passenger transportation by railway transport in general use and related services (technological support for using “Express” Automatic Control System), encashment to the carrier’s accounts, using postal, telegraph and telephone and other types of communications, including the channels and connecting lines), as well as avoiding extending the contract period.

“Russian Railways” OJSC filed a lawsuit challenging the decision of the antimonopoly body. The Courts of three instances, however, confirmed conclusions of Sverdlovsk OFAS Russia.

Such rulings confirm that “Russian Railways” OJSC unreasonably charged additional fee for issuing railway tickets (a commission fee) that are bought through ticket offices of economic entities that are not members of the same group of persons with “Russian Railways” OJSC and “Federal Passenger Company” OJSC”, emphasized the Head of Sverdlovsk OFAS Russia, Tatiana Kolotova.