In exceptional circumstances, where public service contracts for public passenger transport services by rail are awarded on the basis of a competitive tendering procedure, new contracts may temporarily be directly awarded in order to ensure that services are delivered in the most cost-effective way.
In imthosca eisceachtúla, i gcás ina ndéantar conarthaí seirbhíse poiblí le haghaidh seirbhísí poiblí iompair do phaisinéirí d'iarnród a dhámhachtain ar bhonn nós imeachta iomaíoch tairisceana, féadfar, go sealadach, conarthaí nua a dhámhachtain go díreach d'fhonn a áirithiú go ndéanfar seirbhísí a sholáthar ar an mbealach is éifeachtaí atá ann ó thaobh costais de.