European Commission modernises rights for European Rail Passengers

The European Commission has updated the European rules on rail passenger rights to provide adequate information for passengers, improve rights for disabled passengers, and protect rail operators from compensating passengers under strict circumstances. The Commission has outlined five key areas in its proposal to the existing rules of passengers. Firstly, that long-distance domestic and cross-border regional services
September 29, 2017 Read time: 2 mins

The 1690 European Commission has updated the European rules on rail passenger rights to provide adequate information for passengers, improve rights for disabled passengers, and protect rail operators from compensating passengers under strict circumstances. 

The Commission has outlined five key areas in its proposal to the existing rules of passengers. Firstly, that long-distance domestic and cross-border regional services are no longer exempt from a unified application of passenger rights. In addition, Passengers must know whether rights apply to a whole journey when using connected services with separate tickets. Secondly, for disabled passengers to have the right to assistance on all services and full compensation for loss or repair of mobility equipment. Also, an enforcement on complaint handling with clear deadlines, and finally, a force majeure clause exempting rail companies from having to pay compensation to passengers for delays caused by natural catastrophes.

Karima Delli, chair of parliament’s transport said: “Only truly enforceable passenger rights and compensation in case of delays can help increase the popularity of trains and boost low-carbon multimodal travel.”

She added that MEPs will carefully examine which exemptions for the force majeure exemptions will be granted.

Enforcement

Related Content

  • May 29, 2015
    Boost efforts to develop intermodal ticketing, say Transport MEPs
    Transport services providers and providers of journey planners should build on existing synergies and cooperate more closely on providing multimodal, cross-border journey planners, European Commission transport MEPs said. They are calling on the Commission to take the measures necessary to support and facilitate the efforts being made on development of intermodal ticketing.
    Read More
  • March 23, 2012
    EU approves US$660 billion to transform Europe's transport network
    The EU's Council of transport ministers met in Brussels yesterday and approved a proposal for a new regulation of Trans European Transport – Network (TEN-T) guidelines, in a package for a Connecting Europe Facility. The proposal approved yesterday, and which will cost US$660 billion by 2020 if fully implemented, is aimed at establishing and developing a complete TEN-T, consisting of infrastructure for roads, railways, inland waterways, shipping ports and airports. It also defined a comprehensive network and
    Read More
  • May 8, 2017
    European Accessibility Act ‘favours business demands; says disabled group
    The European Disability Forum (EDF) has reacted strongly to the recent EU vote which aims to make key products and services, like phones, e-book readers, operating systems and payment terminals, more accessible to people with disabilities, under new draft EU rules. EDF is an umbrella group representing 100 associations and some 80 million disabled people across the EU. The Internal Market Committee (IMCO) amended and approved the rules, which would apply only to products and services placed on the EU market
    Read More
  • March 11, 2015
    Design improvements for better truck safety delayed till 2022
    On 10 March, the European Parliament approved amendments to the directive on the maximum authorised dimensions and weights for trucks and buses. The final agreement allows for much needed design adaptations to make cabs safer, but only following a revision by the European Commission of the cab type-approval. This means that manufacturers will not be required to implement these changes until 2022. It further retains each Member State’s right to decide whether or not they want to allow the use of mega trucks
    Read More

Highlighted Content