Development of the Rail Regulator in Serbia

The rail sector in Serbia is currently in the midst of wide-ranging reform programme.  A key objective is to liberalise the rail freight market, allowing private rail freight operators to operate on the Serbian rail network.  In order for the market to function effectively, a regulatory body is to be established to ensure fair access to infrastructure for all market participants, to carry out market monitoring, and to act as an appeal body.
The Railways Directorate ("RD") is the body that will function as an economic regulator in addition to being responsible for safety on the rail network.

The RD now requires a consultant (the "Consultant") to support their capacity enhancement (the "Assignment").  With the development of an effective economic regulatory function, it is anticipated that there will be development of a competitive market in rail operations taking place in Serbia. The Consultant will be required to undertake the following tasks as part of the Assignment:

1. Perform an assessment of the existing regulatory framework for the rail sector in Serbia, focusing on the main areas for regulation – technical, economic and safety, with a view to providing recommendations in line with best practice and European Union directives. This will include providing recommendations on the institutional / organisation arrangements.

2. Identify the required functions for economic regulation of the rail sector in Serbia.

3. Identify the required functions as the safety authority of the rail sector in Serbia.

4. Prepare a capacity enhancement plan for the Railways Directorate, which sets out how the required economic and safety functions.

News source: EBRD link: article