Schienen-Control the network of independent railway regulatory authorities (IRG-Rail)
The Independent Regulators' Group – Rail (IRG-Rail) was established on June 9, 2011, in The Hague to promote cooperation and information exchange between Europe's independent railway regulatory authorities.
Today, the network comprises 31 members, including Austria and almost all EU member states with railway networks, as well as six non-EU countries. IRG-Rail's goal is to strengthen homogeneity and transparency in the European railway sector and to support the development of a uniform, competitive, and sustainable European railway market by coordinating regulatory approaches.
As a founding member, Schienen-Control has been actively involved in the work of IRG-Rail since its inception. It contributes its experience from Austrian regulatory work to various working groups and participates in the preparation of joint reports, position papers, and recommendations that contribute significantly to the further development of European railway law.
These documents serve as an important basis for political and regulatory discussions at both national and European level.
IRG-Rail's work is divided into six thematic working groups in which Schienen-Control is Schienen-Control :
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Network access
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Access to Service Facilities
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Market monitoring
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Emerging Legislative Proposals
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Common approaches to usage fees (charges)
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Charges for service facilities
In addition, the organization is supported by a general assembly, which usually meets twice a year and makes decisions on reports, statements, and strategic issues.
IRG-Rail activities in 2025
In 2025 , IRG-Rail was chaired by the Spanish regulatory authority CNMC. Five reports were published that year, which can be found on the website www.irg-rail.eu . One focus was the annual market observation report, which was published in three parts: the main report, the working document, and the data set.
The work in 2025 was based on the IRG Rail Strategy 2025–2028, which defines the strategic direction of the group, and the 2025 work program.
It focuses on the consistent application of railway regulation, the promotion of sustainable and efficient transport systems, and the strengthening of proven regulatory practices for the benefit of passengers and freight customers.
The new working tools introduced in 2024 under the chairmanship of the Swedish regulator Transportstyrelsen proved their worth in bilateral exchanges between member authorities.
During the 2025 plenary sessions held in Spain , Schienen-Control participated in discussions on key topics such as preparations for the EU Capacity Regulation, including IRG-Rail's strategic positioning in relation to ENRRB.
At the beginning of 2026, the British regulatory authority ORR assumed the chairmanship of CNMC.