European Commission. Photo: Giannis Papanikos / Shutterstock.com The European Commission has today, May 13, 2026, announced a major package of proposals aimed at making rail travel across Europe easier and safer for passengers.
The new measures are designed to simplify booking cross-border and multi-operator journeys, with special emphasis on rail travel, where passengers frequently deal with hardships when trying to combine tickets from different companies or compare available options.
The proposed rules would allow travelers to search, compare, and purchase journeys involving multiple rail operators via one ticketing transaction on the chosen platform.
That could include independent booking platforms or the operators’ own websites and apps.
The Commission said the changes would help create a more seamless travel experience while supporting the European Union’s climate goals by encouraging more people to choose rail transport over air or road travel.
At present, passengers traveling across several countries or using different rail companies often need to buy separate tickets, which can leave them without full compensation or assistance if delays or missed connections occur.
The new proposals aim to solve that issue by strengthening passenger rights for journeys booked under a single ticket. Travelers would gain access to assistance, rerouting, reimbursement, and compensation protections across the entire trip, even when multiple rail operators are involved.
The Commission is also proposing stricter rules for ticketing platforms and transport operators to ensure fair competition and neutral display of travel options. Platforms may be required to show journeys based on factors such as greenhouse gas emissions where technically possible, helping passengers identify more sustainable travel choices.
According to the Commission, the proposals support the broader European strategy to boost long-distance and high-speed rail connections across the continent.
Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commosion, has repeatedly promoted the idea of allowing Europeans to purchase “one single ticket on one single platform” while maintaining passenger rights for the full journey.
The initiative also aligns with the EU’s broader plans for sustainable transport and improved digital infrastructure for travel services.
The proposed legislation will now move to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union for negotiations and approval under the bloc’s ordinary legislative process.
A recent Eurobarometer survey cited by the Commission found strong public demand for easier cross-border booking systems and more reliable rail travel options across Europe.