On June 24, 2024, the Ministry of Construction and Transport, as the owner exercising ownership rights over VPE Rail Capacity Allocation Nonprofit Limited Liability Company (hereinafter: VPE), decided to terminate VPE with legal succession by way of merger. Accordingly, VPE ceased to exist on September 30, 2024, and as of October 1, 2024, its general legal successor is the Institute for Transport Sciences (registered office: H-1119 Budapest, Than Károly Street 3-5., company registration number: Cg.01-09-890710; hereinafter: KTI). The tasks defined for the rail capacity allocation body by Act CLXXXIII of 2005 on railway transport (hereinafter: Railway Act) will henceforth be performed by the KTI Directorate for Rail Capacity Allocation (hereinafter: VPE Directorate).
KTI is wholly owned by the Hungarian State. Pursuant to Annex 1, Chapter VI, subsection 12 of Annex 1 of GFM Decree 1/2022 (V.26.) GFM on the designation of persons exercising the ownership rights and obligations of the State over certain state-owned companies, the Ministry of Construction and Transport (1054 Budapest, Alkotmány Street 5., PIR registration number: 847395, VAT: 15847397-2-41; hereinafter: Owner’s Rights Representative) exercises the ownership rights and obligations on behalf of the State.
The legal predecessor of KTI, VPE, was established in 2004 based on Act XCV of 1993 on Railways, as an entity independent from train operating companies and with nationwide authority, solely owned by the Hungarian State.
The tasks, responsibilities, and authority of the KTI VPE Directorate, as the Rail Capacity Allocation Body, are defined by the Railway Act; Governmental Decree No 321/2023 (VII.17.) on legal relationship between the Rail Capacity Allocation Body and rail infrastructure managers; Decree of the Minister of Economy and Transport No 58/2015 (IX.30) NFM on frameworks of the network access charging system, and basic regulations of determination and implementation of network access charges; Decree of the Minister of Economy and Transport No 55/2015 (IX.30) NFM on detailed rules of open access to railway network; and Decree of the Minister of Economy and Transport No 57/2015 (IX.30) NFM on detailed rules of Performance Regime.
The performance of rail capacity allocation activities is carried out in accordance with the activity defined by the Railway Act and in compliance with professional independence and conflict of interest criteria applicable to employees and officials.
Under Section 67/P (3) of the Railway Act, the VPE Directorate is authorized to:
- Allocate capacity of the rail network, including the definition of individual train paths, assessing their availability, and their allocation;
- In case of a non-independent infrastructure manager, determine the access charges to the rail infrastructure operated by such manager;
- Establish the Charging Methodology and the Charging Document, determine the track access charges payable by eligible parties, and collect these charges – which are not considered taxable services;
- Develop the Network Statement of the non-independent infrastructure manager.
In accordance with Regulation (EU) No 913/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning a European rail network for competitive freight, the Directorate is also responsible for capacity allocation and related tasks for the Hungarian sections of rail freight corridors.
KTI operates the IT system for the notification of dangerous goods transport, in line with Governmental Decree No 312/2011 (XII.23.) on controlling of inland waterway and railway transportation of dangerous goods in the course of procedures carried out by professional disaster recovery organs and on rules of a unique procedure for levying of fines, on the amount of fines that might be levied for certain infringements, as well as on detailed rules of authority tasks relating to levying a fine
KTI finances the fulfilment of the tasks defined in Section 67/P of the Railway Act from the service fee defined by government decree, which is derived from the invoiced track access charge. The revenue received by KTI for fulfilling the tasks under Section 67/P of the Railway Act must be used exclusively for the operation of the VPE Directorate and cannot be diverted for any other purpose.