Halcrow helps railways around the world face a number of challenges such as:
- satisfying demand growthand an explicit regulatory framework
- holding down cost inflation
- improving safety and performance
- contribution to sustainable development
In many countries, regulatory bodies have commonly been formed to help this process; in the EU, this is required by EU Directives 2001/12/EC and 2001/14/EC.
Core regulatory functions are:
- preventing railway infrastructure operators from exploiting their market power
- ensuring non-discriminatory access to railway infrastructure
- preventing infrastructure operators and train operators from arbitrary decisions by governments in relation to funding of network capacity, and capability and investment
Halcrow provides technical advice to government departments and regulatory bodies in:
- setting and monitoring of costs and charges
- monitoring and certifying the performance of network and train operators
- auditing safety systems and performance
- the setting of benchmarks for economic and efficient operation