The EU wants simpler rail travel across Europe: one ticket, faster connections and stronger passenger rights
The European Commission is accelerating plans for a better connected Europe railway network, with a focus on fast trains, simpler cross-border ticket purchases and removing national barriers. Particularly important for the tourism industry is the ambition to make it possible to book trips with multiple carriers as a single package.
European railways should become simpler for passengers, but also easier to sell. This is one of the main messages of the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, who presented the Commission's priorities for the next phase of the development of the rail market at the InnoTrans 2026 fair in Berlin.
High-speed railways are moving from planning to implementation phase
The development of the European network of high-speed railways is now increasingly moving towards funding, priority projects and the removal of cross-border bottlenecks. The Commission is simultaneously discussing with Member States, infrastructure companies and investors models that should accelerate the implementation of projects.
The topic was again at the center of Connecting Europe Days at the end of September, where the first steps for implementing the European plan for high-speed railways were discussed.
For tourism, the result is more important than the maximum speed of the train itself. More reliable connections between major cities can make short and medium-distance European trips more competitive than air and road transport.
One trip should also mean one reservation
A major obstacle to cross-border rail travel remains distribution. A passenger who combines several operators often has to buy tickets separately. separate tickets, While the rights in the case of a missed connection depend on the booking structure.
The Commission’s Passenger Package therefore provides for the possibility of combining the services of different railway operators into a single transaction, with wider protection for passengers throughout the entire journey. The goal is summarized by the formula „one journey, one ticket, full rights“.
For travel agencies, TMCs and booking platforms, this could reduce the friction in selling more complex itineraries and make rail travel a more practical component of European travel.
The Adriatic region enters into a broader European transport picture
Nova TEN-T structure It further increases the importance of regional connections. The Western Balkans – Eastern Mediterranean corridor passes through Slovenia and Croatia and connects Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia with the rest of the European network. The Commission announced new work plans for European transport corridors at the end of September.
For the Adriatic market, the actual impact will therefore not depend solely on the new trains. Interoperability, shorter delays at borders, and the ability for passengers to find and book their entire international journey without having to go through several unrelated sales systems will also be equally important.
