IMPEDIMENTS TO INTEROPERABILITY IN THE ORGANISATION OF TRANS-EUROPEAN TRANSPORT SYSTEMS

'Interconnectivity' and 'interoperability' are key themes in developing a Common Transport Policy for the European Union (EU). Their enhancement will contribute to the development of efficient, low-cost, high-quality transport services in Europe. Interconnectivity is achieved when different transport systems are linked to enable transfers between different systems. It is a necessary step towards interoperability, which is the ability of several transport systems to operate together effectively and efficiently. Transport systems may be analysed with respect to a proposed general 'model' of system organisation, comprising policy frameworks, elements of system organisation, and measurable results from system operation. There are complex relationships between these aspects of European transport systems. Examples of impediments to interoperability in European transport systems are given, for: (1) rail services through the Channel Tunnel; (2) the emerging Trans-European network; (3) European air services; and (4) transport between EU countries and Central and Eastern Europe. Measures to overcome these impediments can be developed by changing the policy frameworks that affect transport system organisation. The direction, and perhaps also the size, of policy changes may be analysed in terms of the system organisation model. For the covering abstract, see IRRD 898117.