The European Commission has proposed a new set of regulations aimed at simplifying regional, long-distance and cross-border travel across Europe, with a major focus on improving rail ticketing, passenger protection and multimodal travel integration.
The proposals are designed to make it easier for travellers to plan, compare and book rail journeys involving multiple operators through a single platform and a single transaction, while also strengthening passenger rights across the entire journey.
According to the Commission, passengers currently face significant challenges when booking multi-leg or cross-border rail journeys due to fragmented booking systems, limited ticket integration between operators and inconsistent passenger protection rules.
The proposed measures aim to address these challenges by enabling travellers to search, compare and purchase combined services from different rail operators under a single ticket. These bookings would be available through independent ticketing platforms as well as rail operators’ own booking systems.
Under the new framework, passengers travelling on multi-operator rail journeys with a single ticket would benefit from expanded passenger rights protection in the event of disruptions or missed connections. These protections would include assistance, rerouting, reimbursements and compensation throughout the journey.
The European Commission also proposed new obligations for ticketing platforms and transport operators to ensure fair, transparent and non-discriminatory access to ticket distribution.
According to the proposal, ticketing platforms will be required to display travel options in a neutral manner and, where feasible, include greenhouse gas emissions data to help passengers make more sustainable travel choices.
The new rules would also require transport operators and ticketing platforms to establish fair and reasonable commercial agreements for ticket distribution and service integration.
The proposals form part of the European Union’s broader strategy to strengthen sustainable mobility and improve long-distance and cross-border rail connectivity across the continent.
The Commission stated that the proposals align with the political vision outlined by Ursula von der Leyen, who previously emphasised the need for a seamless European travel experience where passengers can purchase a single ticket on one platform with full passenger rights coverage for the entire trip.
The initiative also supports the EU’s wider plans for high-speed rail development and integrated transport systems under the “Connecting Europe” strategy.
Following the announcement, the proposed regulations will now be submitted to the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament for consideration under the ordinary legislative procedure.
The Commission also urged EU member states to accelerate implementation of the Intelligent Transport Systems Directive, particularly regarding the sharing of multimodal transport data through national access points.
According to a recent Eurobarometer survey cited by the Commission, there is strong public demand for more seamless travel experiences and improved online booking systems for rail travel across Europe.
