The European Commission has proposed new rules that would allow passengers to buy a single ticket for cross-border train journeys across multiple operators by 2029. The plan aims to simplify booking, which currently often requires navigating multiple websites and apps, and to strengthen passenger rights in case of delays or cancellations.
Under the proposals, major railway companies such as Deutsche Bahn, SNCF, and Trenitalia would be required to sell competitors' tickets on their websites and share data with booking platforms. Passengers would also be entitled to assistance if a connection is missed, including rebooking, reimbursement, or accommodation.
The plans face opposition from the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), which called them “unprecedented and unjustified regulatory interventionism.” The CER argues that the market largely meets customer expectations and that the rules could give too much power to large tech booking platforms.
Consumer groups welcomed the proposals. Agustín Reyna, head of the European Consumers Organisation, said: “Booking a rail ticket has become far too complex in recent years. New EU rules would go a long way to making that easier.” A 2025 YouGov poll found that two-thirds of long-distance rail passengers encountered difficulties buying tickets.
EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas described the proposals as “100% pragmatic” and predicted that ticket prices would fall due to greater transparency and competition. The proposals must be approved by EU member states and the European Parliament before becoming law.
