The European Parliament approved a recast of the 2001 EU legislation on liberalised rail services in which it encourages new rail operators to enter the market and supply high-quality services. MEPs also proposes a regulator to enforce compliance with competition rules.

MEPs approved a recast of the 2001 EU legislation on liberalised rail services in order to get a single European rail area. They propose that rules to ensure fair competition must be strengthened, particularly on cross-frontier routes. The reviewed rules seek to encourage new rail operators to enter the market and supply high-quality services. The revision is based in a Commission's proposal issued in September 2009.

Financial transparency and separating the profit and loss accounts of rail network managers and rail transport operators who are part of a single integrated structure (holding company) is vital to ensure the future development and efficient exploitation of the rail network, according to MEPs, whilst guaranteeing that public funds cannot be diverted to other commercial activities. In addition, each EU Member State should ensure the independence and impartiality of the national regulatory authority so as to eradicate discriminatory practices in fixing infrastructure charges, allocating train paths and allowing access to related services (such as ticket sales, repair and maintenance installations, stations and marshalling yards, etc).

Besides, Parliament asks the European Commission to table a proposal by the end of 2012 to complete the separation of rail infrastructure management from the operation of rail transport services and open up national rail passenger transport markets to competition.