Glossary

Aufgabenträger (PTA) — The public transport authority responsible for planning, tendering and contracting SPNV services; see Authorities.

Altmark criteria — The four CJEU criteria that determine when PSO compensation falls outside the state-aid definition (Altmark Trans, C-280/00); see the Altmark note.

CEEAG 2022 — Commission Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy; the primary aid framework for alternative-drive rolling stock.

ECM — Entity in Charge of Maintenance under Regulation (EU) 2019/779.

ERegG — Eisenbahnregulierungsgesetz — the German implementation of Directive 2012/34/EU.

fahma — Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund Fahrzeugmanagement GmbH — the RMV's vehicle-financing subsidiary.

Fourth Railway Package — The 2016 EU legislative block comprising a technical pillar (Directives (EU) 2016/797 and 2016/798, Regulation (EU) 2016/796) and a market pillar (Regulation (EU) 2016/2338 amending Reg 1370/2007 and Directive (EU) 2016/2370 amending Directive 2012/34/EU); see the Fourth Railway Package section.

Kapitaldienstgarantie — Capital-service guarantee given by the PTA to support operator financing of rolling stock.

Keeper — The party entered in the national vehicle register as Keeper of a rail vehicle; often the lessor or the PTA pool vehicle.

Luxembourg Rail Protocol — Rail-specific Protocol to the 2001 Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment, in force since 8 March 2024; creates an International Registry and harmonised priority and insolvency remedies for railway rolling stock. See the note.

Landesanstalt / PTA vehicle pool — Model under which the PTA (directly or via a subsidiary) procures and owns the rolling stock and makes it available to operators.

OSS — One-Stop-Shop of the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) for vehicle authorisation under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/545 and single safety certificates under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/763.

Regionalisierungsmittel — Federal funds transferred under the Regionalisierungsgesetz to finance SPNV; the silent parameter behind every Land-level financing commitment.

Reg 1370/2007 — Regulation (EC) 1370/2007 on public passenger transport services by rail and by road.

SPNV — Schienenpersonennahverkehr — regional rail passenger transport.

TSI — Technical Specifications for Interoperability under Directive (EU) 2016/797.

URVIS — Unique Rail Vehicle Identification System — the vehicle-identification scheme used by the International Registry under the Luxembourg Rail Protocol.

Verkehrsvertrag — Public service contract between the PTA and the operator under Reg 1370/2007.

Wiedereinsatzgarantie — Re-use guarantee: the PTA's obligation to re-deploy or take over rolling stock at the end of a contract term.

Last reviewed: 18 April 2026.