OSE examines user fee increases

Athens - The State-run Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE), which previously operated and exploited all railways activities in the country, is reportedly eyeing an increase in network fees ahead of a memorandum-mandated liberalization of the sector in Greece. Currently, fees reach 1.05 euros per kilometer, with OSE pointing to “reasonable” increases and “compatible frameworks”.

Company’s officials also claimed that fees were too low in comparison to Community standards – a view that emerged in the wake of a successful tender to privatize Trainose last year. The latter is the rail operator.

OSE officials maintain that current fees are calculated in an “arbitrary manner” by Trainose, which was awarded last year to Italy’s Ferrovie Dello Stato Italiane S.p.A. (FS), the winner of an international tender. FD was the sole bidder in the tender, with a binding offer reaching 45 million euros.

(READ MORE)