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The Rail Regulator, Tom Winsor, has today issued draft guidelines setting out how the Competition Act 1998 will be applied in the railway industry. From 1 March 2000, the Act will allow action to be taken against companies that abuse a dominant position or enter into anti-competitive agreements, while giving the Regulator stronger powers of investigation and the ability to impose financial penalties of up to 10% of a company's UK turnover. The Rail Regulator will enforce the Competition Act concurrently with the Director General of fair Trading.
Commenting on the draft guidelines, Tom Winsor said:
"The Competition Act gives me the power to ensure that there is an open and level playing field across the industry, including those parts of the industry that are currently unregulated, such as the rolling stock leasing companies. Compliance with the Competition Act must be an important priority for all companies in the railway industry. I shall expect companies to set transparent programmes in place to monitor compliance, and my Office will actively pursue potential breaches of the Competition Act."
The final version of the Competition Act guidelines will be published following a consultation period which ends on 31 March 2000.
[The draft guidelines are available from the ORR website at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk.] [[see related documents]]
Railnews Archive ::: 2000-02-10 ORR-002
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