S.L. 427.99 Art. 1Title and scope.

(1) The title of these regulations is the Interoperability of the Rail System Regulations.

(2) These regulations transpose Directive (EU) 2016/797 and establish the conditions to be met to achieve interoperability within the Union rail system in a manner compatible with the provisions of Directive (EU) 2016/798 in order to define an optimal level of technical harmonisation, to make it possible to facilitate, improve and develop rail transport services within the Union and with third countries and to contribute to the completion of the single European railway area and the progressive achievement of the internal market. These conditions concern the design, construction, placing in service, upgrading, renewal, operation and maintenance of the parts of that system as well as the professional qualifications of, and health and safety conditions applying to, the staff who contribute to its operation and maintenance.

(3) These regulations concern the provisions relating to, for each subsystem, the interoperability constituents, interfaces and procedures, and the conditions of overall compatibility of the Union rail system required in order to achieve its interoperability.

(4) When a public or private entity submits an official application for the purpose of building a new railway line which is to be operated in Malta in accordance with the applicability of these regulations and which will be regarded as forming part of the Union rail system with a view to its operation by one or more railway undertakings, but excluding a metro system, a tram, networks that are functionally separate from the rest of the Union rail system and any other light rail systems, Article 13, Article 14(1) to (8), (11) and (12), Article 15(1) to (9), Article 16(1), Articles 19 to 26, Articles 45, 46 and 47, Article 49(1) to (4) and Article 54 of Directive (EU) 2016/797 shall apply.