The European Commission proposes a single digital ticket for EU rail travel with compensation for delays and passenger protection.
It is proposed to create a single digital booking standard that would allow complex international travel to be booked in a single application and transaction, regardless of the number of carriers, according to the European Commission. According to the idea, a passenger will be able, for example, to buy an itinerary with connections from Paris to Barcelona within a single digital booking, without switching between national systems and third-party services.
Today, Europe’s rail network remains fragmented, with a significant proportion of cross-border routes not available for a single booking, especially over long distances. It is estimated that on key routes up to one in five international journeys cannot be booked with a single ticket, and on routes over 900 kilometers such cases are more than half.
The Commission argues that the new system should eliminate differences between national operators and require them to share fare and route data with independent platforms. This, it estimates, could increase competition and lower ticket prices, as well as encourage the development of third-party sales services.
A key element of the reform will be strengthening passenger rights. In case of delays of more than 60 minutes, compensation will be provided – 25% of the ticket price, in case of delays of more than two hours – 50%. In addition, carriers will be obliged to redirect passengers free of charge, provide meals and, if necessary, hotel accommodation.
However, the initiative has already caused resistance from railroad operators. The industry warns that mandatory data disclosure and access to ticketing systems could strengthen the role of digital intermediaries and lead to higher commissions. Industry representatives also point out that without modernization of infrastructure – from signaling to high-speed lines – the effect of the reform will be limited.
Despite the disagreements, Brussels sees the project as part of a broader strategy to create a single European transportation space. The next stage is for the initiative to be agreed in the European Parliament and the EU Council. If the package is adopted, the launch of the new system could begin in stages in the coming years.
