EU rail passenger rights rules have been in force since
2009. Today’s vote is an important step towards improving
and updating those rights.
Higher compensation rates after long
delays
MEPs backed an increase in compensation, meaning that
passengers can request equivalent to 50 percent of the
ticket price for delays of between 60 and 90 minutes, in
addition to passengers’ rights for continuation of the
journey or rerouting. Passengers would be entitled to 75
percent of the ticket price for a delay of 91 minutes to
120 minutes and 100 percent of the ticket price for delays
of more than 121 minutes.
Current rules stipulate that passengers may request
compensation equivalent to 25 percent of the ticket price
for delays of 60 to 119 minutes and 50 percent for a delay
of 120 minutes or more.
Better information and
assistance
According to proposed changes, more information on
passenger rights will be available at stations and in
trains. The information will also be printed on the ticket
to make passengers aware of their rights and allow them to
claim their rights before, during and after the trip.
MEPs also clarified rules to ensure assistance free of
charge to persons with reduced mobility and persons with
disabilities at stations.
They also clarified that rail operators and station
managers are responsible for fully compensating passengers
in a timely manner if they have caused loss of or damage to
mobility equipment, or lost or injured animals trained to
assist disabled people.
To help in take-up of cycling, new and refurbished trains
must in the future have a well-indicated space to transport
assembled bicycles, MEPs say.
They also backed clearer deadlines and procedures for
complaints handling.
Ensuring uniform application of EU rail passenger
rights rules
To ensure that EU rail passenger rights rules are applied
earlier and in all countries, Transport Committee MEPs also
backed the proposed earlier phase-out of
temporary exemptions used
by a number of member states in applying certain parts of
the 2009 passenger rights rules for domestic rail services.
So far, only 5 member states (Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the
Netherlands and Slovenia) fully apply the EU rail passenger
rights rules.
Exemptions for domestic rail services may last no longer
than 1 year after the entry into force of the amended
rules, MEPs say.
Next steps
The draft rules will now need to be voted on by the full
house of the European Parliament.
