Legislative Developments in Rail Transport in 2010

Polish rail transport law did not overcome such important amendments in 2010 as in 2009. There was a lengthy amendment act transposing several directives supposed to be enacted in 2010, which is unfortunately still proceeded by the Polish Parliament. The act transposes Directive 2008/57/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 on the interoperability of the rail system within the Community, Commission Directive 2009/131/EC of 16 October 2009 amending Annex VII to Directive 2008/57/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the interoperability of the rail system within the Community and Directive 2008/110/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 amending Directive 2004/49/EC on safety on the Community’s railways. This draft mainly concerns the interoperability of the Polish trans-European rail system with the Community trans-European rail system which has to be ensured while constructing and operating the parts of this system. It also particularizes the competences of the President of the Rail Transport Office (in Polish: Urząd Transportu Kolejowego; hereafter, UTK) in this area. This act is supposed to be enacted by September 2010 and to enter into force at the end of the year.