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

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Less than 1% of UK drivers aware of hacking threats – new research
    October 31, 2018
    Nearly all UK drivers with keyless technology are unaware of the major digital threats posed by hackers, according to research conducted by MoneySuperMarket. The study reveals that 99% of drivers are unaware of security flaws such as phone phishing, where hackers send emails to drivers which contain malicious links that connect to a car’s Wi-Fi features and take control. MoneySuperMarket says 16% of drivers - or someone they know - have experienced car hacking. Also, eight out of 10 drivers do not k
    Read More
  • Central Europe signs up to ITS standards
    May 31, 2013
    Seamless multi-modal traveller information services are becoming reality in the Danube Region. On 15th of March 2013, a Hungarian national holiday of which many people were unaware, unexpected extreme winter weather paralysed Hungary as well as large parts of Slovakia. Several thousand people were stranded on the region’s highways and the railways incurred delays of several hours. Not only did the transport system in the affected regions break down, the information flow to neighbouring countries was very sl
    Read More
  • Flixbus enters US and grows European mobility network
    May 17, 2018
    German mobility start-up Flixbus is entering the US on 31 May to provide cheap bus services to passengers in Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Tucson. The FlixMobility subsidiary intends to offer 1,000 daily connections in the US by the end of 2018. FlixBus manages the technology, ticketing, customer service, network planning, marketing and sales while its local partners operate the vehicles. For the first phase, 180 FlixBus connections will be operated by six regional bus companies.
    Read More
  • C/AVs could mean cheaper roads
    October 28, 2019
    The safety benefits of C/AVs have long been promoted – but research suggests they should also contribute to cheaper roads. David Crawford investigates the potential benefits in infrastructure costs Building narrower freeway lanes to accommodate the enhanced route-tracking capabilities of connected and autonomous vehicles (C/AVs), running in platoon conditions, could result in cost savings of £0.5 million (€0.56 million or US$6.5 million) for every km of road length built. Such benefits could be secur
    Read More

Highlighted Content