UIC published the Impacts of Liberalisation on HSR Affordability report, the final output of the Liber-Afford project. It examines how opening high-speed rail passenger markets to competition influences ticket prices, passenger demand, household expenditure, and social equity.
The report was developed in cooperation with the Technical University of Madrid (UPM), with the active support of two major UIC member organisations: German Railways (DB) and National French Railways (SNCF). Its empirical analysis focuses on Spain, currently the most advanced case study for open-access high-speed competition in Europe. It then applies these findings to a broader European context using Italian, French and German case studies. The analysis combines publicly available fare data with national travel and household budget surveys, meaning it covers both the supply and the demand side of the market.
High-speed rail is a powerful driver of economic growth, connectivity, and sustainable transport. Ensuring that all segments of society can benefit from it is an increasingly important policy objective. In this context, opening the market through the EU Railway Packages offers an opportunity to broaden access to high-speed services.
The study finds that liberalisation in Spain has been associated with lower average fares, a wider choice of products and service levels, and rapid growth in high-speed rail ridership. Part of this growth reflects a shift away from road and air transport, which supports climate objectives. Incumbent railway undertakings have responded constructively to competition by diversifying their services, to the benefit of passengers. The effects vary across corridors, income groups, and journey purposes, depending on market maturity, network characteristics, and competition intensity.
The report also notes that competition works best alongside complementary public action. It suggests areas to focus on, including:
- Stable and transparent capacity allocation frameworks
- Well-designed Public Service Obligations (PSOs) on routes less suited to open-access competition
- Clear fare information that helps passengers make the most of available offers
- Improved data sharing to monitor outcomes over time
It also highlights the need to consider the long-term sustainability of the system as a whole, including infrastructure capacity, maintenance, and the economic viability of all market stakeholders.
The authors stress that the results are specific to conditions in Spain. Network structure, regulatory frameworks, and traffic differ significantly across Europe, so the findings should not be applied to other markets without careful adaptation.
The UIC Passenger Department coordinated the development of the report and the UIC Intercity and High-Speed Committee (ICHSC) provided guidance.
The full report is available on the UIC shop: https://shop.uic.org/fr/autres-rapports/15196-impacts-of-liberalisation-on-hsr-affordability.html
