Presentations on review of research, on measurement of marginal social cost, EU Policy, experience of key member states (Britain, France, Germany, Austria).
Overview of the issues to be considered and planning of the programme for future seminars. This would draw on findings from IMPRINT-EUROPE and, more recently, the work of the ECMT rail group. Obviously what follows may change in the light of this discussion. As background, results from the recent reviews of this area conducted by ECMT and by DGTREN will be presented and discussed.

Identification of the marginal wear and tear costs, external congestion and scarcity costs, external accidents costs, environmental costs of rail infrastructure use.

Understanding the implications of cost levels and cost structures for efficient charge levels and structures;

Understanding the impacts of more efficient rail infrastructure charges, including the impacts of greater harmonisation of charging regimes and the impact on end-user prices, particularly in relation to the freight market.
Need for greater transparency and implications in terms of infrastructure expenditures monitoring

The role of rail infrastructure charges in cost recovery and the generation of rail investment funds;
The process for agreeing infrastructure charges and the need for an independent regulator to oversee charge-setting and dispute resolution, including the implications for setting charges in the presence of franchising.
Need for European guidelines on cost calculations (e.g. methodology, conditions or needs for harmonisation, etc)Particular problems of financing rail infrastructure under severe budget constraints.

Review of previous seminars and attempt to pull together overall conclusions

Identification of factors which might promote consistent moves from existing to more efficient and harmonised charges.