OREANDA-NEWS. August 10, 2011. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) found that “Russian Railways” OJSC violated Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” on the market of maintenance works for private detached freight wagons, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

The case against “Russian Railways” OJSC was initiated upon petitions to FAS Russia from the Association of the Rolling Stock Owners, St Petersburg OFAS Russia and economic entities –owners of the freight wagons. According to the petitioners, starting from the second half of 2010 “Russian Railways” OJSC considerably increased the costs of maintenance works of private freight wagons detached by “Russian Railways” OJSC due to certain faults, like operational malfunctions of a set of wheels, when maintenance costs was getting closer to the costs of sheduled repair works –roundhouse servicing and capital repair works. In some cases the costs of maintenance of detached wagons even exceeded the costs of scheduled repair works of freight wagons completed using production facilities of “Russian Railways” OJSC.

Investigating the case, the FAS Commission analysed competition on the market of repair works of private detached freight wagons in 2010 and concluded that “Russian Railways” OJSC had the dominant position on the market.

Materials obtained in course of the investigation show that “Russian Railways” OJSC created discriminatory conditions that infringed the interests of freight wagon owners, particularly, by calculating the cost elements for repair of private freight wagons and submitting them to the owners, lessees or holders of the wagons upon any other right.