The European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) and the German Federal Railway Authority (EBA) have signed a cooperation agreement. The two authorities concluded how they will cooperate in issuing single safety certificates, vehicle and vehicle type authorisations. These tasks will be assigned differently with the implementation of the 4th Railway Package.

This was the first cooperation agreement signed between the ERA and a National Safety Authority of the EU. From 16 June this year, the ERA will be the single railway authority in Europe. It will be the main party responsible for issuing authorisations for the placing on the market of railway vehicles and vehicle types, for issuing single safety certificates for railway undertakings in the European Union and for granting ERTMS trackside approval.

Cooperation

The agreement was signed by the President of EBA Gerald Hörster and ERA’s Executive Director, Josef Doppelbauer. The authorities defined how they are to cooperate, and established how the EBA is to assist the agency in carrying out the new task. The signature inaugurates a new cooperation era for the Agency, the ERA noted.

The Agency is expected to sign more cooperation agreements with the other National Safety Authorities of the Single European Railway Area prior to taking up its new responsibilities. The 4th Railway Package is a set of six legislative texts created to complete the single market for rail services (Single European Rail Area). Its overarching goal is to revitalise the railway sector and make it more competitive. It comprises the so-called “Market Pillar” and the “Technical Pillar”.

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