MEPs debated and approved the agreement with member states on the revised rules on rail passengers’ rights. The rules will guarantee that passengers can be re-routed and receive help when there are delays and cancellations. Access and assistance will improve for people with reduced mobility, and there will be more dedicated spaces for bicycles. Extracts from the debate with Bogusław LIBERADZKI (S&D, PL), Rapporteur, Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Sven SCHULZE (EPP, DE), Johan DANIELSSON (S&D, SE) and José Ramón BAUZÁ DÍAZ (Renew, ES), announcement of the results and illustrative shots.

Brussels

debate

plenary session

vote

passenger rights (T)

LIBERADZKI, Bogusław (S&D, PL)

railway package (T)

SCHULZE, Sven (EPP, DE)

BAUZÁ DÍAZ, José Ramón (Renew, ES)

DANIELSSON, Johan (S&D, SE)

JOHANSSON, Ylva (SE, EC)

2021 European Year of Rail (T)

Rail passengers' rights and obligations: extracts from the debate (28/04) and from the vote (29/04)

Title: Rail passengers&apos; rights and obligations: extracts from the debate (28/04) and from the vote

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Bogus&#322;aw LIBERADZKI (S&amp;D, PL), Rapporteur, We want train transport to become more popular. We want this mode of transport to increase. Now, to arrive at the objective, we should increase the accessibility for people so that the trains become more accessible physically, no matter of your level of ability or disability. People should be able to use trains.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, The new regulation offers better protection for rail passengers in cases of delay, cancellations, missed connexions and discrimination. It also makes significant progress in responding to the needs of people with disabilities or reduced mobility.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, It is clear that the agreement reached is a win win situation for all. The new rules would significantly improve rail passengers protection while also taking into account the need to keep the rail sector competitive. This balance is essential to improve the sector's image and attract more people to rail.

SOUNDBITE (German), Sven SCHULZE (EPP, DE), It will be much easier as a passenger to choose the most economical journey option. And the data will be made available across Europe. And there will be genuine competition in the rail sector as a result. The economic situation faced by the rail sector should not be forgotten. We know that due to the pandemic, the sector is going through a difficult and tough times.

SOUNDBITE (Swedish), Johan DANIELSSON (S&amp;D, SE), Through this proposal, rail passengers will have a guarantee for route changes, alternative routes and people with reduced mobility have better access to help. So we're putting more demands in place and also exchanging more information between rail companies. And that will strengthen the possibility of having through ticketing in the EU. We're going to have to continue our work to make sure that multimodal booking systems will be possible and ensure that a booking will allow a passenger to get to their final destination, even if their various train operators involved along the way.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Jos&#233; Ram&#243;n BAUZ&#193; D&#205;AZ (Renew, ES), We are aware of the difficulties caused by the pandemic, some passengers have had lots of trips cancelled and in some cases haven't been reimbursed yet. But I'm also thinking about the huge pressure and the financial difficulties of carriers, transport carriers. The way we've bolstered passenger rights is more necessary than ever.