One journey, one ticket: EU plans to simplify cross-border rail travel

Buying train tickets that cover journeys across borders in the EU is about to get easier thanks to a European Commission proposal.

The newly announced passenger package will see travellers able to make single-ticket bookings across multiple rail operators in one transaction.

“Freedom of movement is one of Europe’s greatest achievements,” Apostolos Tzitzikostas, commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism, said in a statement. “Today, we are taking it a step further by making travel across all 27 Member States simpler, smarter and more passenger friendly.

“With digital tools and integrated mobility services, Europeans will be able at the click of one button to plan, compare and purchase multimodal journeys across borders, while benefiting from stronger rail passenger rights, greater transparency and better protection every step of the way.”

What do the new rules mean for passengers?

Alongside making bookings easier, it also means increased passenger rights, as you will be protected if you miss a connection – even if your services are operated by different railway companies.

Passengers will now have the right to be re-routed to their final destination without having to pay for a new ticket, and they will get compensation for the overall delay.

You will be entitled to assistance, which could include meals and even accommodation, should you need an overnight stay as a result of missing your next train.

The proposal will also see online ticket platforms that hold a market share of more than 50% display all available options – including competitors – while booking.

The European Commission has said that the current market “lacks transparency”, and that the new rules will help new operators distribute their tickets.

Additionally, railway operators will need to put their tickets up for sale online at least five months in advance.

When will the passenger package come into force?

The European Commission will now submit the proposed regulations to the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament.

The passenger package will then be examined and approved. According to the European Council, around 85% of laws are adopted at the end of the first reading or beginning of the second.

Countries within the EU will also need to speed up their implementation of the Intelligent Transport Systems Directive’s rules on sharing multimodal transport data.

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