European Commission Launches Call for Evidence for Passenger Rights Revision

The European Commission has launched a call from both the general public and stakeholders for evidence on a revision of the Rail Passenger Rights Regulation.

The Regulation, which concerns the protection of passengers travelling by rail in the EU, grants passengers a number of rights with regards to travel disruptions during journeys including the right to reimbursement, re-routing, assistance and overall compensation.

The Regulation’s last revision took place in 2021, having initially been introduced in 2007, and obliged rail operators qualifying as a ‘sole undertaking’ to offer ‘through-tickets’ which allowed passengers missing a connection full protection when boarding an alternative service.

The latest call for revision has been made by President von der Leyen, who has stated that cross-border train travel is ‘still too difficult for many citizens’, with her proposed solution including the offering of a single ticket via a single platform that covers passenger rights for the entirety of a trip.

Additional updates currently under consideration for the Regulation also include new provisions for passengers who have missed connections on a train journey involving multiple operators (provided the journey was purchased as part of a single transaction).

The call for evidence, which is available here, will remain open until 22 September 2025.