The European Commission wants to simplify train travel in the EU by introducing a single booking system for multiple operators and strengthening passenger rights.

The European Commission has announced proposals aimed at simplifying cross-border rail travel, allowing passengers to make reservations with a single ticket for multiple segments of a journey, even with different operators. These measures are part of a broader mobility package recently published. The current reservation system is considered fragmented, and the new rules will require railway operators with a market share of 50% or more to open their online sales platforms to competitors. Enhanced rights for passengers will be introduced, including a 'single ticket' that will allow the booking of complex journeys in a single transaction. Additionally, artificial fragmentation of journeys into separate reservations will be prohibited. The Commission wants tickets to be available at least five months before departure. The package also includes regulations for multimodal booking platforms, which will need to sort transport options based on objective criteria. The proposals are set to be discussed in the European Parliament and among EU member states.