This is a small revolution brewing in the railways if the European Commission manages to get its project adopted. In order to reduce the role of air travel and therefore carbon emissions at the European level, it intends to promote train travel in Europe. After supporting the creation of ten cross-border routes, the European body presented a bill this Wednesday aimed at simplifying the distribution of train tickets between major railway companies and across various distribution platforms.
In each country, the leading platform would thus be obliged to sell tickets for other European companies, including its main competitors. In practice, SNCF Connect would thus resell tickets for Trenitalia, Renfe, DB, Italo, ÖBB… The SNCF website also does not sell tickets for certain night train companies such as Nightjet and European Sleeper.
If this law is passed, it will allow travellers to undertake long journeys across Europe by using multiple connections and operators, all with a single ticket in their pocket or on their phone. Travellers will be able to find, compare and purchase combined services from different rail operators in a single ticket, payable in a single transaction on the ticketing platform of their choice. This could be an independent platform or the rail operator's ticketing service. », summarises the European Commission in its statement.
It should be noted that, to encourage the use of trains and simplify distribution, senators voted for an amendment a few days ago in the framework law on Transport that will oblige SNCF Connect to sell competing companies to SNCF from 31 December 2027. For this law to come into effect, it will still have to go before the National Assembly.
Multiple benefits expected for European passengers
In addition to travelling with a single ticket, passengers will be better able to compare timetables and, above all, prices if several competing operators are present on booking platforms. In its latest report, "Travelling by Train in Europe: A Headache for Passengers", the Climate Action Network highlighted that, for the same train, SNCF Connect did not display the best fares. For example, the Paris-Frankfurt route, operated jointly by SNCF and DB, is advertised from €79 on SNCF Connect and from €40 on the DB website or from independent distributors such as Trainline.
Like French senators in their draft law, the European Commission also intends to increase the rights of rail passengers by granting them "new comprehensive protection" including "assistance, rerouting, refund, and compensation" A passenger travelling with a single ticket who misses their connection due to a delayed train from one of the rail operators must be assisted to continue their journey, or even fully compensated (meals, hotel, etc.).
Equal rules between distributors and operators
Finally, the Commission intends to introduce new obligations for both ticketing sites and operators so that everyone has from fair access to ticket sales' with a 'neutral presentation of travel options And to clarify things clearly: « Platforms will be required to display offers in a neutral way, including by sorting them by greenhouse gas emissions where possible. Regulation will ensure that all transport operators can conclude fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory commercial agreements with ticketing platforms, and vice versa. ".
To ensure its bill is passed, the Commission must now submit its draft regulation to the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament. Following final adoption, this remarkably innovative text concerning passenger rail transport will need to be transposed by each EU country into its national legislation.
