Dutch competition authorities slapped the national rail operator with a multi-million-euro fine today for breaking the law during a 2014 tender process to provide regional rail services. "National Rail (NS) abused its position of power" in a bid to win a contract in the southern Limburg province, the Authority for Consumers and Markets said, handing down a 41- million-euro (USD 46.8-million) fine. "The NS made a loss-making bid... in which the costs would have been higher than the income the NS expected to generate through regional transport services in Limburg," the ACM said in a statement. In a statement after the decision, NS said it "disputes that it made a loss-making offer," adding it has formally objected and requested the ACM "to reconsider its decision." "The rail market can only function properly if all play according to the rules," ACM chairman Chris Fonteijn said in a statement.

Source: dna June 29, 2017 11:26 UTC