OREANDA-NEWS. October 11, 2013. “Gudok” Publishing House hosted a Round Table on the issues of managing empty car fleet under the shortage of carrying capacity. Deputy Head of the Railway Transport Unit of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia), Evgeny Reutov made a presentation.

The event was also attended by representatives of federal executive bodies, the Committee of the State Duma of the Russian Federation on Transport, “Russian Railways” OJSC, non-commercial associations of participants of transportation process, as well as operators and freight owners.

The Round Table discussed the issues of legal regulation of relations between participants of carrying process due to the new legislative initiatives on “introducing a principle of occupying the infrastructure in general use on a fee-paid basis over specified time” possibility of the risks of unenforceable operator’s debt to a carrier, and possibilities for resolving railways bottlenecks.

The Round Table also covered the issues of introducing freight calendar planning proposed under the framework of unified technological process, transferring the car fleet of “FGK” OJSC to “Russian Railways” OJSC, the costs of providing cars and FAS decision on a case of an anti- competitive agreement between Kemerovo Regional Authority, “Russian Railways” OJSC and operators.

“The provisions of the calendar freight planning do not comply with the Railway Transport Statute and the antimonopoly law. FAS repeatedly warned “Russian Railways” OJSC about this and the monopoly agreed. At the same time, they discuss a possibility of transferring the car fleet of “FGK” OJSC to “Russian Railways” OJSC, as well as amendments to the Federal Law “On Introducing Changes to the Federal Law “The Railway Transport Statute of the Russian Federation” and the Federal Law “On the Railway Transport in the Russian Federation”. We are concerned that the changes can result in shortage of cars on the market in spite of their actual surplus, and sharp increase of the rates for cars”, pointed out Evgeny Reutov. “The Working Group at the State Duma must additionally elaborate on the amendments to the Federal Law The amendments will also be considered by FAS Expert Council on Railway Transport on 7th October 2013”, added FAS representative.

In conclusion, Evgeny Reutov emphasized that it is necessary to disclose information about free / restricted infrastructure capacities on-line. It will help optimize transportation process and efficiently use the infrastructure, particularly, for rolling stock tracks.