Where certain conditions related to the nature and structure of the railway market or the railway network are fulfilled, competent authorities should be entitled to award public service contracts for public passenger transport services by rail directly where such a contract would result in an improvement in the quality of services or cost-efficiency, or both.
I gcás ina gcomhlíontar coinníollacha áirithe a bhaineann le cineál agus struchtúr an mhargaidh iarnróid nó an ghréasáin iarnróid, ba cheart na húdaráis inniúla a bheith i dteideal conarthaí seirbhíse poiblí le haghaidh seirbhísí poiblí iompair do phaisinéirí d'iarnród a dhámhachtain go díreach i gcás ina gcuirfeadh an conradh sin feabhas ar chaighdeán nó ar chost-éifeachtacht na seirbhísí, nó orthu araon.