Have Your Say: Speak Up Before EU Rail Rights Consultation Ends

Cross-border train travel remains too complex, and the Commission says it is time for change. A new call for evidence on rail passenger rights seeks to guarantee compensation, re-routing, and assistance for every journey — even when multiple operators are involved.

Back in July, the European Commission has launched a public consultation on revising the Rail Passenger Rights Regulation, aiming to simplify cross-border train travel and extend protections for passengers. The initiative, open until 22 September 2025, seeks input from both citizens and stakeholders and is closely tied to wider EU goals for multimodal digital mobility and integrated booking systems.

Gaps in the Current Regulation

The Rail Passenger Rights Regulation was first adopted in 2007 and last revised in 2021, when new rules obliged rail companies classed as a "sole undertaking" to issue through-tickets. This ensured that if passengers missed a connection under such a ticket, they were entitled to reimbursement, re-routing, assistance, or compensation. However, according to Railway News, the regulation does not fully cover situations where multiple operators are involved in one journey, leaving passengers at risk of losing protection if disruptions occur outside the control of the initial carrier.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has made the issue a political priority, stressing in her guidelines that "cross-border train travel is still too difficult for many citizens." Her solution points toward a model where Europeans can purchase a single ticket via one platform that guarantees full passenger rights across the entire trip. As noted by GTP Headlines, the new consultation explores how to close existing legal gaps and extend rights to passengers booking through ticketing platforms that combine services from different operators, effectively laying the foundation for a single-ticket system for Europe.

Towards a Targeted Revision

The Commission pointed out that this is not a wholesale overhaul but a targeted revision designed to make rights enforceable in complex, multi-operator travel scenarios. According to the official announcement, the review will focus on ensuring effective protection when connections are missed, while also aligning with forthcoming proposals on multimodal digital services and integrated ticketing. This approach reflects the EU’s wider transport agenda, which aims to encourage modal shift towards rail and make it a more competitive and reliable choice for long-distance and cross-border journeys.

The discussion also connects to broader EU efforts to raise awareness of passenger rights across all modes of transport. As outlined by the Commission’s information portal, travellers already enjoy strong protections when flights are cancelled, trains delayed, or luggage lost on ferries, with access to complaint procedures, national enforcement bodies, and support from European Consumer Centres. In cases where companies fail to respond, passengers can turn to Alternative Dispute Resolution entities or the Online Dispute Resolution platform for online purchases. These existing mechanisms reinforce the Commission’s argument that rail users must benefit from equally clear and enforceable protections across Europe.

🚆 More rights. Less hassle. The EU way.

We want to ensure passengers can exercise their rights when combining tickets from different railway operators, including rights to:

✅ Reimbursement
🔁 Re-routing
🆘 Assistance
💶 Compensation

Any views? We’re all ears. #HaveYourSay ↓

— European Commission (@EU_Commission) August 19, 2025

The consultation is available in all official EU languages via the Have Your Say portal and will remain open until 22 September 2025. After reviewing submissions, the Commission is expected to draft a legislative proposal that will then go to the European Parliament and Council for negotiation. According to the Commission’s media release, the revision could reshape how millions of Europeans experience rail travel, ensuring that protections follow passengers seamlessly across borders and multiple operators, while reinforcing the EU’s ambition of an integrated, consumer-friendly transport network.