The European Commission has unveiled a new set of proposals aimed at making seamless travel across Europe a reality, with a particular focus on simplifying rail journeys involving multiple operators and strengthening passenger rights.
Presented as part of a broader mobility package, the initiative introduces the concept of a “single ticket” for journeys that combine services from different railway companies. The objective is clear: one journey, one ticket, and full rights for passengers across the entire trip.
From Berlin to Barcelona by train.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 13, 2026
Today cross-country journeys mean several bookings and risks if you miss a connection.
Let's change that.
With one ticket and full passenger rights all along your journey.
That‘s our new passenger package.https://t.co/0V3WkkvMIu pic.twitter.com/dVS5aVfw7Z
Tackling fragmentation in Europe’s rail system
Despite growing demand for sustainable transport, booking cross-border rail travel in Europe remains complex. Passengers often face fragmented systems, limited transparency, and difficulties in comparing options, especially when journeys involve multiple operators.
The Commission’s proposal directly addresses these challenges by enabling travellers to search, compare and purchase combined rail services in a single transaction, either through independent ticketing platforms or directly via operators.
Ever missed a connecting train & been told it's not the operator's problem?
— EU Justice (@EU_Justice) May 13, 2026
🚆 The EU is making rail travel simpler & fairer:
✅ Single-ticket bookings across multiple rail operators
✅ Full rail passenger rights for the whole journey
✅ New obligations for ticketing platforms pic.twitter.com/VOjvsGKoru
“Freedom of movement is one of Europe’s greatest achievements,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas. “Today, we are taking it a step further by making travel across all 27 Member States simpler, smarter and more passenger friendly.”
The reform also aims to open up the market by requiring dominant rail operators to share their ticketing platforms with competitors, increasing visibility for smaller players and improving competition across the sector.
Stronger passenger rights across the entire journey
A key element of the proposal is the extension of passenger rights to cover the full journey when booked under a single ticket, even if multiple operators are involved.
In practical terms, this means that passengers who miss a connection due to delays or cancellations will be entitled to assistance, rerouting, reimbursement and compensation for the entire journey, not just individual segments.
📣 The Passenger Package has been announced!
— Europe's Rail JU (@EURail_JU) May 13, 2026
Today, the @EU_Commission has proposed new rules for a smoother travel experience for passengers: https://t.co/K1M9Iff93x
🇪🇺 One journey, one ticket, full rights.#PassengerRights #ConnectingEurope @Transport_EU pic.twitter.com/EKvpnErMrk
This marks a significant shift from the current situation, where protections are often limited when journeys are split across multiple tickets.
Passengers may also receive meals, accommodation if needed, and alternative transport solutions, ensuring continuity of travel even in disrupted scenarios.
Towards more transparent and sustainable travel choices
Beyond ticketing and passenger rights, the Commission is introducing new obligations for booking platforms to ensure fair competition and transparency.
Platforms with significant market presence will be required to display travel options in a neutral manner, based on objective criteria such as price, travel time, or greenhouse gas emissions, rather than commercial agreements.
This is expected to make it easier for travellers to identify more sustainable options, supporting the EU’s broader climate objectives.
At the same time, new rules will ensure that transport operators and ticketing platforms can enter into fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory agreements, addressing long-standing concerns about restricted access to ticket distribution.
Travelling across Europe by train should be simple.
— EPP Group (@EPPGroup) May 13, 2026
But for too long, passengers have faced different national booking systems, multiple platforms, and separate tickets to complete one cross-border journey.
Better ticketing means:
🚆 Easier cross-border rail travel
📱 One… pic.twitter.com/uFQqPDy7Pr
Remaining challenges and next steps
Alongside the legislative proposals, the Commission published an implementation report on the existing Rail Passenger Rights Regulation, highlighting progress made since 2023, including improved rules on bicycle carriage and better passenger information.
However, the report also points to persistent gaps, particularly the limited availability of through-tickets for cross-border journeys involving multiple operators, an issue the new package seeks to resolve.
The proposals will now be submitted to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union for negotiation under the ordinary legislative procedure.
In parallel, Member States are expected to accelerate the implementation of rules under the Intelligent Transport Systems Directive, particularly those related to sharing multimodal transport data.
If adopted, the package could mark a decisive step towards a truly integrated European rail system, making cross-border travel not only more convenient but also more competitive and sustainable.
