European Performance Regime (EPR) -

The RNE/UIC European Performance Regime (EPR) project has it’s origins in the EU directive 2001/14, article 11 which stipulates that a Performance Regime (PR) should be implemented throughout the network within each Member State. Whereas the EU directive applies to the traffic within a Network, it was considered opportune to develop a performance regime for international trains between Networks so that the international trains wouldn’t be subject to several national Performance Regimes.



Brief history of Project

The European Performance Regime (EPR) was initiated with the objective to design a Performance Regime (PR) which could be used both for international and national traffic allowing a Network, if so desired, to apply only one PR in its territory.

Subsequently the system features and attributes were defined:

• The EPR should be build on the delay minutes of international train runs along corridors monitored by the RNE Train Information System (TIS, formerly EUROPTIRAILS)
• The EPR system should be fair, transparent and without excessive administrational burden
• The EPR was designed to be an incentive scheme to induce quality improvements and not a compensation system of damages caused by delays

Between years 2004-2008, four different proposals for the EPR bonus / malus calculations were initiated and analysed leading finally to the adoption of the so-called Reference Model in December 2008 by UIC Regional Assembly for Europe.

The proposed calculation models were tested and the technical requirements for EPR implementation defined during two series of test-runs: In 2007, 3 test liaisons monitoring 1 587 freight and 1 185 passenger trains were carried out. In 2008, a second set of 7 test liaisons including 974 freight and 820 passenger trains was conducted to consolidate the previous test results.

Such test runs provided experience and additional information, which allowed the EPR Groups to draft the ‘EPR Handbook Description of EPR Model’; this handbook was adopted as the reference for the Pilot Application carried out in 2010-2011.

In 2010 the main focus was the preparation of the Pilot Application, especially  setting up the required IT systems and connected procedure.
Currently, a Pilot Application is being carried out on 9 routes: its aims are to verify the technical and operational feasibility of the EPR scheme and to evaluate the fairness of the commercial model.


Current EPR Project Organisation




Read more:
> EPR Pilot Application
> EPR Scheme