This report examines market power in rail markets in Europe arising from horizontal and vertical
mergers in the sector, and is intended to provide a high-level basis for discussion at the round table
itself. It presents factual information on horizontal and vertical merger cases involving rail freight
operators, highlighting the processes used by competition authorities to determine the circumstances in
which such mergers should be approved. It also provides commentary on the economics of these
markets and, hence, the likely prospects for their future shape.
The topic of the report is timely. The first set of results are available from a preparatory study for
the European Commission on whether policy objectives with respect to moving freight onto rail can
best be achieved by giving freight more priority on the rail network.
