CER: EU Rail Ticketing Proposal Risks Empowering Big Platforms

Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies has criticised the European Commission’s new Passenger Package, warning that the proposed rules could increase ticket prices, weaken railway operators, and strengthen the position of large digital platforms.

The European Commission’s proposal aims to make cross-border rail bookings easier by offering single tickets and one-click travel options for passengers across Europe. But CER says the legislation brings a level of regulatory intervention that is new to a market already changing quickly thanks to industry-led efforts.

CER says the European rail ticketing market already meets most passenger expectations. The group refers to a recent Eurobarometer survey, where 73% of people who booked connecting journeys with different rail companies found the process easy.

CER also pointed to the launch of the Open Sales and Distribution Model (OSDM), an IT standard created by the rail industry to make ticketing data exchange easier. The association says OSDM has already led to a big rise in international digital rail ticket sales, with growth in Germany expected to reach up to 75% between 2025 and 2026.

Concerns Over Mandatory Distribution Rules

CER says the proposed Single Digital Booking and Ticketing Regulation (SDBTR) would require major railway operators to enter mandatory distribution agreements with digital platforms that want access to ticket sales.

The association argues this could give large platform operators more market power and raise distribution fees, which may result in higher ticket prices for passengers. CER also says the proposal goes against the principles of the EU’s Digital Markets Act and broader efforts to simplify regulation.

Another major concern is that railway companies would have to distribute their competitors’ products. CER says this could discourage investment in new booking systems and limit commercial freedom for operators.

The association also criticised proposals to regulate commission fees on third-party ticket sales, arguing that these measures would make the market less flexible at a time when it is growing and diversifying.

Liability Concerns Over ‘Through-Tickets’

CER also raised concerns over linked plans to revise Rail Passenger Rights rules, particularly proposals requiring all multi-leg rail journeys to be sold as single "through-tickets."

The association says making railway companies fully liable for disrupted journeys does not reflect the commercial realities of rail operations, especially when several operators or transport modes are involved. CER believes responsibility should fall on the ticket seller, not just on train operators who often work with low profit margins.

The organisation also questioned why aviation was mostly left out of the Commission’s proposals, even though the EU says it wants to improve comparisons between travel modes and encourage sustainable transport choices.

CER Executive Director Alberto Mazzola said the rail sector already shares the Commission’s goal of seamless travel, but warned that too much regulation could end up causing the problems it is meant to fix.

"Today’s proposals favour big digital platforms, risk increasing ticket prices, undermine railways’ investments in innovation and set aviation apart rather than promoting fair competition. Sector-led transformations in rail ticketing are delivering tangible results for passengers according to the clear path set out in the CER Ticketing Roadmap. Just 5 years on, we see more rail ticket vendors, better integration, and higher cross-border ticket sales than ever before. We share the Commission’s vision of seamless travel. But regulation will not help achieve that vision any faster than the sector’s own initiative and risks creating the very problems it intends to solve. Rather than fostering competition and innovation, mandatory distribution obligations and fixed commission fee structures could entrench platform gatekeepers, limit entrepreneurial freedom, and ultimately harm passengers through higher prices," said Mazzola.