Buying multiple tickets, changing platforms at every border, missing a connection and finding yourself without assistance could soon become a thing of the past. The European Commission has presented a new package of rules intended to radically change the way of traveling by train on the continent: the project is called “One journey, one ticket, full rights” and aims to introduce a single European railway ticket. The objective is ambitious: to allow passengers to organize international trips and routes operated by different companies with a single booking, a single payment and uniform rights along the entire route. A transformation that Brussels considers strategic both for mobility and for environmental sustainability.
How the new single European ticket will work
The main innovation concerns the digitalisation of the European railway system. In the future, travelers will be able to search, compare and purchase routes operated by different operators directly on a single platform, independent or belonging to a railway company. This means that a trip, for example from Milan to Brussels with changes in Paris or Frankfurt, can be purchased in a single operation without having to enter the websites of the various national companies.
Taking too long to buy tickets discourages users
The proposal will oblige railway operators to make their travel tickets available to online sales platforms that request them. Furthermore, the dominant platforms – especially those linked to former national monopolists – will also have to show competitors’ offers, ensuring transparency, neutrality and greater competition. According to the European Commission, booking an international rail journey today takes on average much longer than an air flight. The fragmentation of the system discourages millions of people with many users giving up multi-operator travel due to the complexity of booking.
More rights for passengers: what changes in case of delays
One of the most important aspects of the plan concerns the new protections for travellers. Until now, those who missed a connection between trains of different companies often found themselves without coverage or forced to buy a new ticket. With the new system, however, the single ticket will guarantee complete assistance even on trips managed by multiple operators. In case of delay or cancellation, the passenger will have the right to:
The company responsible for the disservice will have to deal with the problem, while the other operators involved will be obliged to accept the traveler on the next available service.
A revolution compared to roaming
In Brussels there are those who compare this reform to the end of roaming costs for mobile phones. It is no coincidence that several European representatives have defined the project as one of the most concrete initiatives of recent years to strengthen the European single market. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen explained that cross-border travel must become simple and safe, without the risk of losing rights when switching from one company to another. Executive vice-president Raffaele Fitto also underlined how the project aims to reduce fragmentation and make European borders less “visible” for those traveling by train.
When it comes into force
The legislative package will now have to go through the approval process at the European Parliament and the EU Council. If the regulatory process proceeds without slowdowns, the new rules could come into force in the next few years. The ticketing platforms will then have approximately twelve months to adapt. According to Commission estimates, the new system will lead to an increase in rail passengers of up to 5%, with economic benefits for both travelers and the European rail transport sector.
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