European commission proposes new legislation to simplify cross-border rail travel

The European Commission has introduced three legislative proposals designed to streamline the booking process for long-distance and cross-border rail travel within Europe. The initiative addresses technical and market barriers by requiring platforms to enable the purchase of multi-operator journeys as a single ticket. Passengers will be able to search, compare, and book these services through any ticketing platform of their choice, including independent services or operator-owned systems. Under the new rules, travelers holding a single ticket for a multi-leg journey will receive full passenger rights protection, including assistance, rerouting, and reimbursement if a connection is missed. The proposal also mandates that ticketing platforms provide neutral presentations of travel options, with a requirement to sort offers by greenhouse gas emissions where feasible. Raffaele Fitto, the Commission’s executive vice president for cohesion and reforms, stated that these measures aim to reduce market fragmentation and improve service delivery across the single market.