One ticket for all of Europe's railways moves closer to reality

The concept of a single European train ticket, akin to the convenience of mobile roaming, is moving closer to realization. This initiative promises a revolutionary change, enabling travelers to board a train in one city and reach virtually any destination across Europe accessible by rail, all with one ticket.

Dariusz Joński, a Member of the European Parliament and member of the Transport Committee, highlighted the potential impact. "We will be able to buy such a ticket on one common platform," he stated, emphasizing the ease of booking and payment. The European Commission has put forward new regulations designed to streamline the planning and reservation process for various types of rail journeys, particularly those involving multiple operators and cross-border travel.

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Single ticketing or also one common European ticket will be a great revolution, like roaming in telephony. We will be able to get on in Kutno, Łódź or Warsaw and go to any place in Europe where the train goes, on one ticket. Even if we have to change once or twice, we will be able to get there on the same ticket.

Currently, booking multi-operator or multimodal journeys can be complicated, with fragmented reservation systems making it difficult to find the best offers. Passenger protection is also limited in such scenarios. The proposed regulations aim to eliminate these inconveniences and enhance passenger rights, drawing parallels to the compensation passengers receive in air travel for delays or cancellations.

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We will also have passenger rights. A bit like in aviation – if the plane is delayed, does not arrive or the flight is canceled altogether, then the passenger can expect compensation, and in the case of more transfers, it matters whether the train is delayed or arrives on time.

Research indicates a strong demand for such simplification. A Eurobarometer survey revealed that over three-quarters of Europeans book tickets online, yet 36% struggle with booking multimodal trips, and 31% avoid them altogether due to complexity. Similarly, a quarter of respondents find booking tickets across multiple rail carriers difficult, with 43% not booking such journeys at all. Issues with the timeliness of train connections, especially for journeys with multiple transfers, remain a key concern.

European rail companies have reportedly reached an agreement, a crucial step that facilitates the complex financial settlements between them. The focus now shifts to the passenger experience, ensuring a straightforward process of booking, payment, and travel without the current complexities.

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This is all proposed by the European Commission, and we in the Transport Committee are starting work in June, because we want to do it as quickly as possible.