Technical, legal, and business conditionings of the functioning of rail operators in the freight transport market

In the article, the authors presented the technical, technological, legal, and business conditions of the functioning of rail freight transport in the international transport market. The authors analyzed the literature, considering this area's most important national and international normative documents. An essential element of the considerations is the presented schematic concepts of models for various forms of rail freight transport. The main ways of organizing freight transport at the eastern border were also indicated. The reasons for barriers that negatively affect the competitiveness of rail transport with other modes of transportation, especially in international transport, were shown. The rail transport market has undergone many changes recently, including investments in railway infrastructure, the growing importance of intermodal transport, and support for a more sustainable transport system. The article indicates the reasons for the occurrence of barriers that negatively affect the possibilities of further development of railways and the competitiveness of rail transport with other modes of transportation, especially in international transport.