EU Proposes 1-Ticket Cross-Border Rail Rules by 2029 as Operators Fight Data-Sharing Mandate
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 13
EU Proposes 1-Ticket Cross-Border Rail Rules by 2029 as Operators Fight Data-Sharing Mandate
15 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 13
By 2029, the European Commission wants rail passengers to buy a single ticket for multi-country journeys and gain stronger rights when delays or cancellations break connections.
Under the draft rules, major operators including Deutsche Bahn, SNCF and Trenitalia would have to sell rivals’ tickets on their websites and share data with booking platforms.
The proposal would also make the operator causing a missed connection provide rebooking on the next train or cover reimbursement, food and accommodation, depending on the case.
Rail operators are pushing back, saying the market already works for many travelers and warning that opening data could hand big booking platforms more power to raise distribution fees.
Consumer groups back the plan, citing surveys showing two-thirds of long-distance rail passengers faced booking difficulties, while flights were cheaper than trains on 54% of 109 cross-border routes.
Is the EU's 'one-click' booking dream doomed by the reality of fragmented national rail infrastructure?
Will forcing railways to sell rival tickets lower prices, or just empower big tech platforms?
Unifying Europe’s Rails: The 2026 EU Proposal to Simplify Cross-Border Train Travel by 2029
Overview
On May 13, 2026, the European Commission introduced a major legislative package focused on creating a unified rail ticketing system to address the long-standing fragmentation in booking systems across Europe. Currently, travelers face difficulties booking multi-leg journeys involving different companies, which limits their ability to find the best deals and reduces passenger protection. The new regulation aims to simplify cross-border rail travel by 2029, making it easier for passengers to plan and purchase tickets for complex trips. This unified system is expected to improve convenience, enhance consumer rights, and support a more integrated and sustainable European rail network.