Railway regulation: a comparative analysis of a diverging reality

In recent years, the French rail system has been undergoing substantial transformation which gradually challenges the historic monopoly of SNCF. The recent entering into force of the Railway Pact Act in 2018 has led to major reorganization of the whole governance of the rail market, including a transformation of the SNCF and a formal opening to competition, both for services under public services obligations and for open access to the network. The effectiveness of this opening up to competition – completely new in France – will have to be assessed taking into account the existence of many barriers to entry.