EU Proposes ‘One Trip, One Ticket’ Rail Rule: What It Is And How It Benefits Travelers

Last Updated:May 13, 2026, 17:28 IST

EU rail ticket plan forces operators to sell rivals tickets online, aims to simplify cross border travel. Though it faces industry backlash, EU lawmakers see benefits.

As the time for summer vacations approach and the European countries gear up to welcome the swarm of tourists, the EU has announced its plans to force railway companies to sell rivals’ tickets on their websites and share data with booking platforms.

According to AFP, the European Union has said the move, fiercely opposed by operators, would make journeys more seamless, helping passengers to find, compare and buy tickets in one go.

“Freedom of movement is one of Europe’s greatest achievements. Today, we are taking it a step further by making travel across all 27 member states simpler, smarter and more passenger friendly," said the EU’s transport chief Apostolos Tzitzikostas.

This comes as passengers have to buy tickets from different operates if they intend to take up a multi-country trip.

AFP reported that the EU proposal would mean undertakings that hold at least 50 percent of a national market would also have to display on their websites all services run in their country by competitors — and sell the related tickets if clients want them.

The proposal has been criticized by the Community of European Railways (CER) lobby group. “I’m not aware of any case where somebody is obliged to sell the product of a competitor. Think about Lufthansa obliged to sell Ryanair" flights, CER head Alberto Mazzola told AFP.

Meanwhile, the proposal has been backed by the European Parliament.

“Booking cross-border train journeys within Europe is still unnecessarily complicated," said Vivien Costanzo, a centre-left EU lawmaker.

“A European rail system needs simple bookings, reliable connections, and clear rights for passengers. Only then will rail become a genuine European alternative to short-haul flights," she said.

Jan-Christoph Oetjen, a centrist European lawmaker, said: “With more competition on the railways, passengers will benefit from better service and lower prices."

The move comes as the Iran war has resulted in sharp spike in fuel prices.

News world EU Proposes ‘One Trip, One Ticket’ Rail Rule: What It Is And How It Benefits Travelers

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