Every year passengers travel some 500 billion kilometres on Europe’s rail network. MEPs back tougher rules to protect their rights, similar to those for airline passengers.

EU politics

rights of the individual

Transport

MEPs back improved rights for rail passengers

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/17557737/N01-PUB-181018-RAIL-EN.srt

This is Alexander and today, he is catching a train in Berlin.

To get assistance at the station, he must request it well before travelling.

You need to call the mobility service of Deutsche Bahn 

or send an email and ask if it is possible to take such train at such a time 

Parliament wants to simplify the procedure for people like Alexander

What is quite obvious at airports is that people with reduced mobility 

have special treatment - nice treatment up to their seat in the aircraft. 

Something similar, we'd like to introduce in railway stations.

And just like rules for air passengers, Parliament wants to improve rail passengers' rights.

Especially when it comes to compensation for long delays. 

It's not worth getting into a huge line at the information desk

 just to get the delay paper and then receive €4.50. It's a waste of time.

Under the new rules passengers will be able to claim 50% of their ticket cost 

for delays of between one and one-and-a half hours.

75% for delays of one-and-a-half to two hours. 

And the entire price of their ticket for delays over two hours.

That's double the current level of compensation.

Other measures include 'one-stop-shop' ticketing for journeys with several legs,

 better storage space for bikes on new trains 

and clearer procedures for handling complaints.

MEPs want to see the rules universally applied across the EU. 