The European Commission has published three interconnected proposals that aim to enable Europeans to book and travel by train more easily. These regulations tackle fragmentation in the railway market whilst promoting competition and sustainability. Together, they represent a distinctly liberal approach: removing barriers, empowering consumers, and tackling market gatekeeping.
Written By: Eloi Brogne, Junior Policy and Research Officer
The European Commission has published three interconnected proposals that aim to enable Europeans to book and travel by train more easily. These regulations tackle fragmentation in the railway market whilst promoting competition and sustainability. Together, they represent a distinctly liberal approach: removing barriers, empowering consumers, and tackling market gatekeeping.
As someone who’s family is spread across Europe, I am forced to purchase separate tickets via multiple operators, every time I want to travel by rail across borders. Additionally, in case of a missed connection, I lose all protection. While these may seem like small, everyday inconveniences, they point to deeper structural problems. Addressing them can make a significant difference, not just for individual travellers (such as myself), but for the competitiveness and sustainability of Europe’s transport system as a whole. The fundamental right of free movement of people must be cherished and invested in, so what do these proposals mean for passengers and the future of sustainable transport in Europe?
Passenger Rights
The new Regulation proposal on Single Tickets changes this fundamentally. Companies can no longer artificially segment journeys that could be sold as one ticket. When you purchase a single ticket covering multiple operators, the railway undertaking responsible for any delay or cancellation causing a missed connection becomes liable for your entire journey, not just one leg.
This addresses a critical gap in Regulation (EU) 2021/782 on rail passengers’ rights and obligations. Passengers now receive consistent rights to assistance, reimbursement, rerouting and compensation across the entire multi-operator journey. The proposal strengthens protection for passengers holding a single ticket across operators, including rerouting, reimbursement, assistance and compensation if they miss a connection.
Breaking the Incumbent Gatekeeping of Ticketing
This is where competition comes into play. The Proposal on Rail Ticketing tackles a structural problem: incumbent state-owned operators dominate both rail services and online ticketing platforms, excluding competitors from visibility.
Two obligations apply. First, the proposal requires railway undertakings to make ticketing content available under fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms, improving access for independent platforms. Second, indispensable platforms (those vertically integrated with operators holding 50%+ market share) must host competitors’ tickets on equal terms. This echoes aviation’s CRS Code of Conduct, adapted for rail’s unique market structure.
In simple terms, the Commission is trying to level the playing field. Rather than breaking up dominant companies, it ensures that they give fair access to their ticketing systems. This helps smaller operators compete and ensures that consumers are not limited to the offers of a single platform or provider. The 50% market share threshold means these rules only apply where a company has enough influence to shape the market (this mirrors the telecom sector “significant market power” doctrine.)
Multimodal Booking
The third proposal, on multimodal booking, addresses booking platforms themselves. It ensures that major multimodal digital mobility services (MDMS – these are apps/platforms combining multiple transport modes into one journey) display all transport options neutrally, preventing self-preferencing. This complements the proposal of Rail Ticketing Regulation, enabling integrated journeys across rail, bus, aviation and maritime transport on single booking platforms.
Conclusion
These three proposals come at a crucial moment for European mobility. As geopolitical instability continues to disrupt air transport and the urgency of the climate transition intensifies, the need for a reliable, competitive and sustainable rail system has never been greater. What may seem like technical adjustments (how tickets are sold, how platforms display options, how journeys are structured) can make rail travel significantly more accessible and attractive for millions of Europeans.
Together, these three regulations demonstrate liberal economic thinking: competitive markets require active intervention against gatekeeping; sustainable transport requires better consumer experience; the single market requires harmonised rules. They create proportionality by using structural obligations rather than aggressive competition enforcement. They enable rather than mandate private cooperation. For liberals committed to both market functionality and climate goals, these deserve support as the framework takes shape through the European Parliament.