OREANDA-NEWS. September 25, 2013. A conference–workshop on “Government Regulation of the Freight Market” took place on 19th September 2013. Participants discussed the issues of government regulation of freight market and the prospects of developing a segment of regular freight traffic.

The workshop was opened by Deputy Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia), Anatoly Golomolzin.

Deputy Head of FAS Department for Control over Transport and Communications, Natalia Yakovenko, made a presentation on “Antimonopoly Regulation of Railway Transport in 2011-2013 and the Objectives for Developing Competition on the Freight Market”.

In the past two years FAS and its regional Offices investigated over 150 cases against “Russian Railways” OJSC. Natalia Yakovenko talked about the most frequent violations by the monopolist, giving various examples. Even if the case is lost at Court there is often a positive effect for the market”, pointed out отметила Natalia Yakovenko.

In 2012 a new antimonopoly institution of warnings – admonitions came into effect. FAS issued four warnings to “Russian Railways” OJSC, which all were executed. “Initiating a case is a labour-intensive process that takes time, and since FAS decisions are often challenged at Courts it is a question of many months. The system of warnings enables us to not only reduce the number of cases but, what’s most important, it allows correcting the situation on the market within the shortest possible period of time, emphasized the speaker.

Natalia Yakovenko paid special attention to the measures towards developing competition in railway transportation, devised by FAS:

Improving the law on freight in line with harmonization within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Commission and the situation on the market

Creating commercial infrastructure for the freight market

Providing non-discriminatory access to railway transportation

State-by-stage termination of government regulation of the freight tariffs in competitive sectors

Developing capacity for manufacturing medium universal containers.

“Currently "“Russian Railways” OJSC owns nearly the whole network of railways in general use and nearly the entire fleet of main-line locomotives and the traffic control system. However, in other segments of railway transport, in particular, providing cars, significant shares belong to other owners. In the FAS opinion, it’s a long-felt need to reform railway industry and transition to market relations in railway transport. The mandatory conditions for establishing commercial infrastructure must be its orientation towards all transportation participants”, said Natalia Yakovenko.