Railway Reform 2.2 in mid-2013 gave RACO the power to initiate ex officio proceedings where discrimination is suspected. This preventive monitoring aims to identify restrictive developments at an early stage and to combat discriminatory behaviour.

RACO's decisions are made taking into account the current market environment, and technical and legal foundations. These create conditions for fair competition.

In the reporting year, the Commission carried out two investigations, concluding one of them with a decree. It involved train path allocation by Trasse Schweiz AG concerning the train path application and allocation process for PostMail trains in the 2014 annual timetable. Deficiencies were identified and principles laid down for future proceedings. The case is still pending. You can read further information on page 8 of the Activity Report.

Internationally, the Commission has noticed that regulatory practice and cooperation between the different countries is developing slowly. RACO participates actively and is able to make a valuable contribution, due to Switzerland's central location and highly developed railway system.

The Commission's activities are highly respected by the stakeholders, which are clearly pursuing concerns that may generate controversy. The Commission therefore attaches considerable importance to legally competent, congruent and transparent practice, which must be further strengthened over the years to come.

The Railways Arbitration Commission (RACO) is an independent and active supervisory authority for rail transport. Since conclusion of the Land Transport Agreement between Switzerland and the European Union it has been supervising non-discriminatory access to the rail network.

This gives the regulatory body a function in terms of competition: all railway undertakings (RUs) are entitled to non-discriminatory access to the rail network and thus to the rail transport market under equivalent technical and economic conditions.

The seven members of the Commission are appointed by the Federal Council. They are independent of the railway industry. RACO is chaired by Patrizia Danioth Halter, lic.iur., lawyer and notary, LL.M., Altdorf.

RACO is exercising its new competencies