{"id":194371,"date":"2025-04-02T18:15:24","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T08:15:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=61289"},"modified":"2025-04-02T18:15:24","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T08:15:24","slug":"ktz-does-not-abide-by-priority-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=194371","title":{"rendered":"\u2018KTZ does not abide by priority law\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kazakh Railways (KTZ) seems to take the country\u2019s rail priority rules not very seriously. That conclusion follows from an assessment by the Kazakh Agency for Competition Protection. The written law and reality diverge, rail freight operators\u2019 association ARFC concurs.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>The priority rules, often referred to as \u201crules for non-discriminatory access\u201d, should in theory allow equal access to the railways for every operator. When there is limited capacity, a predefined set of rules determines who gets to go first.<\/p>\n

\u201cNon-discriminatory access: the law is there, but access is not?\u201d, writes ARFC. \u201cEverything is good in the law: Article 6 of the rail transport law guarantees transporters equal access conditions to the mainline network. […] Rules, tariffs and procedures are the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

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A freight train in Kazakhstan. Image: Shutterstock. \u00a9 kzww<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Reality is different<\/h2>\n

But in practice, things work differently, ARFC says. It cites the Kazakh Agency for Competition Protection, which says that private companies are having a hard time getting onto the rail network. Access procedures are complicated and take a long time.<\/p>\n

Moreover, long-term contracts are only available to state-owned rail operators KTZ\u2019s subsidiaries. No other rail company can secure business beyond the short-term. Information systems are also closed, which means that data is not being shared beyond the state operator\u2019s systems.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, KTZ is reportedly displaying a preference for its own subsidiaries in terms of discounts, timeslots and payment conditions. And even if there are well-defined priority rules, KTZ gets to go first regardless.<\/p>\n

Four demands<\/h2>\n

\u201cARFC acknowledges that there is competition on paper. In real life, there are barriers\u201d, the association says. \u201cFor now, non-discriminatory access is a declaration.\u201d<\/p>\n

To change that, the association demands four things. First, it wants to separate infrastructure management from transportation services. Second, private parties should get access on the basis of clear and long-term agreements. Third, KTZ\u2019s IT system should open up for transparency, and the current tariff policy should be revisited.<\/p>\n