EU Enacts Rail Passenger Rights Legislation

The European Union last week enacted new protections for rail passengers, ensuring new rights to compensation if bags are lost or damaged and in cases of excessive delays or cancellations, among others.

The EU enacted the right to minimum compensation of 25 percent of the ticket price for delays between one and two hours and 50 percent of the ticket price for longer delays. The new rail provisions also guarantee that passengers will receive compensation for lost or damaged baggage, up to €1,285 for each piece of luggage.

The provisions also guarantee rail access to disabled passengers and strengthen financial remuneration in instances of death or injury, while commanding rail operators to better inform passengers of pertinent information throughout their journey and implement, along with member states, "a complaint handling mechanism."

"With millions crisscrossing Europe each day, it is for me evident that Europe has to take care that people are able to travel in safety and comfort," said Antonio Tajani, vice president of transport for the European Commission. "These new rights protecting people traveling by rail promote reliable and high-quality rail passenger services. After establishing these rights for passengers traveling by air and rail, our next step will now be to protect those going by water or by bus and coach." The EC said it could enact such laws as soon as next year.

The new rules stem from legislation in 2007, but the EC still is giving operators and member states an extension to implement the new practices of "up to 15 years for services limited to the national territory," EC said. For local rail service—"i.e. urban, suburban or regional services" —member states can opt out entirely, but such exceptions are "not for cross-border services within the EU."