VIENNA (dpa-AFX) - The European Commission has imposed heavy fines on two cargo train operators for operating a cartel in breach of EU antitrust rules in the market for so-called cargo 'blocktrain' services.
Express Interfracht, part of the Austrian railway incumbent Österreichische Bundesbahnen ('ÖBB'), was fined EUR17,356,000 and Schenker, part of the German railway incumbent Deutsche Bahn ('DB'), was fined EUR31,798,000.
These two companies and Kühne+Nagel of Switzerland fixed prices and allocated customers for their 'Balkantrain' and 'Soptrain' services in Europe for nearly eight years.
Kühne+Nagel, which is one of the largest transport and logistics companies in Europe, was not fined as it was granted immunity under the Commission's 2006 Leniency Notice for revealing the existence of the cartel. Express Interfracht and Schenker received reductions of their fines under the Leniency Notice for cooperating with the investigation. Since all three companies agreed to settle the case with the Commission, the fines imposed were further reduced by 10 percent.
The 'blocktrains' covered by the cartel, named 'Balkantrain' and 'Soptrain', were jointly operated by Kühne+Nagel, Express Interfracht and Schenker. 'Balkantrain' ensures the connection between Western and Central Europe with Southeast Europe. 'Soptrain' connects Central Europe with Romania. In order to limit competition between them, the companies agreed on several restrictive practices, the Commission's investigation found.
The infringement lasted from July 2004 to June 2012, and the Commission's investigation started with unannounced inspections in June 2013.
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