European Union approves single ticket for cross-border trains with full protection

Comissão Europeia presented a legislative package called “One Viagem, Um Bilhete” on May 13 that transforms the cross-border train reservation system on the mainland. The proposal obliges railway operators to make their offers available on single platforms, allowing passengers to purchase combinations from several companies in a single transaction. The system offers unprecedented protection: free rerouting or full refund when connections are lost, as well as financial compensation for delays of more than one hour.

Passenger Direitos in the new system

The most significant change is legal. Atualmente, two tickets purchased separately are legally independent — if one connection is lost, the second company has no liability obligation. The new system treats the combined trip as a single ticket, generating integrated rights throughout the journey. Passengers will receive three main protections:

• Reencaminhamento free until the final destination or full refund, at the traveler’s choice.
• Compensação 25% of the price for delays over 60 minutes, or 50% for delays over 120 minutes.
• Cobertura of meals and lodging on missed overnight connections.

Essas protections face significant resistance from established operators. Alberto Mazzola, director of CER (a group representing DB, SNCF, ÖBB and Trenitalia), criticized the measure as “unprecedented interference in commercial freedom”. Comparou demands that Lufthansa sell Ryanair tickets, indicating intense negotiations in the coming months.

Impacto on main European routes

Três routes exemplify the scope of change. Paris-Berlin-Praga involves Eurostar, DB and ČD — currently two or three separate transactions. With the new ticket, the purchase takes place in a single transaction on SNCF-Connect, Trainline or DB, with guaranteed rights throughout the entire route. The Paris-Berlin section lasts approximately 8 hours with prices starting at 49 euros, followed by 4.5 hours to Praga. The Lille-Copenhagen route uses the Prague-Berlin-Copenhagen direct line, operated by ČD since May 1, 2026, allowing journey extension from Lille via Eurostar with three operators and three territories now under single guarantee.

Lyon-Vienna combines TGV and Nightjet, a classic combination involving SNCF, DB and ÖBB, particularly vulnerable since the cancellation of the direct Nightjet Paris-Vienna in December 2025. The new system eliminates the risk of ticket repurchases at connecting stations, offering legal certainty to travelers who rely on multiple operators.

Cronograma implementation and legislative challenges

The ordinary legislative process follows through Conselho of União Europeia and Parlamento Europeu, with subsequent transposition in each Estado-Member. Comissão Services estimates realistic implementation between 2028 and 2029, leaving room for significant changes during negotiations. Vários points remain unclear: the “where possible” CO₂ emissions classification is vague enough to be practically optional, and multimodal connections (train + bus, train + ferry) do not receive the same guarantee, excluding common trips to Escandinávia and Southern Europe.

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Conselho itself, where transport ministers meet, is directly influenced by the CER. Existe real risk of the text being diluted or clearing limits being reduced during negotiations between Estados-Members, substantially changing the original proposal.

Estratégias practices for travelers until 2028

Até full implementation, practical precautions limit risks. Plataformas that bring together multiple operators (Trainline, Rail Europe, RailPlanner, Omio) combine tickets into a single receipt, generating commercial contractual liability without invoking European regulations. The term “single ticket” or “direct ticket” remains crucial — it is the only one that activates Regulamento 2021/782 protections. A purchase that combines several separate tickets, even paid in a single transaction, does not automatically trigger these protections.

Reservar at least 60 minutes between trains operated by different companies is essential, especially at transit stations such as Brussels-Midi, Frankfurt Hbf or Munich Hbf. Flexible Tarifas (ÖBB Sparschiene Flex, DB Flexpreis, SNCF Liberté) cost more but guarantee rebooking at no additional cost. Documentação is mandatory to invoke regulations in case of dispute: screenshot of Registro of Nome of Passageiro, photo of departure board and delay certificate issued at the station.

Contexto environmental and future of European mobility

The proposal responds to operators’ lack of interest in cross-border routes. ÖBB discontinued Nightjet Paris-Vienna and Paris-Berlin in December 2025, fragmenting the European offering. Bruxelas seeks to compensate for this fragmentation through commercial simplification, although without being able to require the maintenance of specific routes. The measure is part of the Pacto Ecológico Europeu, with the objective of doubling high-speed rail traffic by 2030. The single ticket enables rail competition with aviation on trips of 4 to 10 hours, where modal potential is greater. Plataformas as Trainline and Omio will become central players in the single rail market with mandatory access to the offerings of established operators — a change welcomed by Bruxelas in a sector previously protected by Estados-Members.