More compensation and greener commuting for rail passengers

Today, MEPs have just voted for rail passengers throughout the EU to have a greater entitlement to compensation without the loophole of force majeure, for full rights even when travelling with several railway providers, and to be able to take bicycles on the train. The revised Passenger Rights Regulation will now go to "trilogue" negotiations with the Council and the European Commission.

For delays of between one and one and a half hours passengers will be entitled a refund of 50% of the ticket price. For delays of one and a half to two hours this will rise to 75% percent of the ticket price, and the full ticket price will be refunded for delays of more than two hours.

Jakop Dalunde, transport spokesperson for the Greens/EFA Group, comments:

"If we are to reduce the flying, it must be easier to travel far distances by train. The effect of this proposal is that it is likely to become just as easy to book trains as booking fight tickets. This will enable smart entrepreneur to come up with the equivalent of Skyscanner – but for trains. I also welcome that the European railway companies will have to create more spaces for bicycles in train carriages, which will encourage greener and healthier commuting".