A new train ticket system has been proposed to make rail travel in Europe simpler, especially when crossing borders and travelling long distances.
The European Commission has proposed launching single ticket bookings across multiple rail operators, emphasising ease for passengers and higher rights protection.
The Commission said the system would allow passengers to find, compare and purchase services from different rail operators and consolidate them into a single ticket.
The idea is that those planning to travel across Europe can buy multiple journeys in a single transaction on a ticketing platform of their choice, rather than making individual purchases with different rail operators.
In addition to simpler booking, the commission said it would launch new, full passenger rights protection, including assistance, rerouting, reimbursement and compensation if a passenger misses a train connection.
The new system would also require ticketing platforms and operators to ensure a neutral presentation of travel options, including sorting by greenhouse gas emissions to promote sustainable travel.
The proposal comes after the Commission argued that comparing rail travel options remains difficult for passengers in the EU.
“Booking multiple-leg train journeys involving tickets from different companies can be complex, largely due to fragmented booking systems and the very strong market presence of certain rail companies,” the Commission said in a press release.
“Passenger protection is limited on rail journeys involving multiple tickets by different rail operators.”
Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the European Commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism, said that the proposal would make travel across the member states 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,” he said.
The Commission said it will submit its proposal to the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament for consideration under the ordinary legislative procedure.
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