Open access

General definition: the legal process by which operators who are neither State-owned (most European countries) nor franchised (UK situation) can gain access to the railway infrastructure; this enables them to run services complementing or competing with the services run by other operators. EU definition: one of the cornerstones of European railway policy is open access to infrastructure. Thus DIRECTIVE 2012/34/EU sets out a framework allowing open access operations on railway lines by companies other than the historic operators ('incumbents'). With a view to ensuring non-discriminatory treatment of all Railway Undertakings, it lays down common rules and principles governing conditions of access to the network. These include: schemes for track access charges, access to a range of services and the use of appropriate facilities (such as catenaries, refuelling facilities, freight terminals and maintenance facilities), charges for these services and facilities. In addition, EU legislation provides fo Regulatory Bodies, which offer Railway Undertakings a safeguard against any anti-competitive practices that might constitute a barrier to entering the railway market.