The CEOs of Deutsche Bahn, SNCF and FS Italiane signed a declaration on 20 September 2016 for the establishment of a permanent governance structure that will facilitate the exchange of data relating to timetables and fares in the European railway sector.
The new TAP TSI Services Governance Association (TSGA) will constitute one of the key milestones towards fully implementing the Regulation, acting as an enabler of businesses to step further in the field of digitalisation.
TSGA will improve the ultimate benefit of European rail travellers, by ensuring to European actors in the railway sector that basic ticketing related information are widely provided.
“Establishing the TSGA is a major step of the implementation of the TAP TSI”, European Commissioner Violeta Bulc, responsible for transport, said. “It will contribute to making seamless European rail planning and ticketing smoother.”
“TAP TSI is the first and, as yet, the only European initiative to bring together all relevant ticketing players in trusting collaboration. It will prove decisive for raising awareness of the urgency of speedy digitalisation in ticketing, as well as in operations”, said Rüdiger Grube, President of Deutsche Bahn. SNCF, Trenitalia and Deutsche Bahn had contributed significantly to the preparation of a long-term TAP TSI governance structure, “because strong partners and flagships are needed for the successful implementation of this regulatory task directed at the sector as a whole.”
“This cooperation will allow us to better streamline future services, including ticketing which will be provided under the TAP TSI Regulation. Today’s declaration proves that European railways and the European Commission work hand in hand in order to make travelling by rail a truly European experience in the future profiting from the digital progress underway”, Renato Mazzoncini, CEO of FS Italiane said.
Guillaume Pepy, President of SNCF, said: “Digitising railways and fostering interoperability in rail at European level are a top priority for SNCF. TSGA will facilitate businesses to step up further in these fields. We invite all railway undertakings and relevant stakeholders to join the association in the future.”
The TAP TSI sets out common technical standards for the EU-wide exchange of rail transport data. The Regulation is currently being implemented by the railway sector with the set-up of the TSGA being crucial to its successful long-term governance. The association is a statutory response to the TAP TSI regulatory requirements and will be operational subject to clearance from the competition authorities.
(Source: Deutsche Bahn)
