EU Prepares One-Ticket Rule for Cross-Border Train Travel

Cross-border rail travel in Europe has long been considered complicated, with travellers needing to purchase several separate tickets. The President of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, has voiced her frustration on social media. “From Berlin to Barcelona by train. At present, cross-border journeys require multiple bookings and carry the risk of missing a connecting service. Let us change that,” von der Leyen wrote, according to AFP, on Tuesday, 19 May 2026.

In the single-ticket scheme, rail operators would have to sell tickets from competitors by displaying rival services on their official websites. The policy would apply to operators that control at least 50 per cent of the domestic market.

Additionally, rail operators would be required to share timetable and fare data with online booking platforms. This step is intended so travellers can search, compare, and purchase rail tickets in a single transaction.

Europe aims to cut carbon emissions from civil aviation. Air travel accounted for nearly 12 per cent of emissions in 2022, while rail accounted for 0.3 per cent.

EU data show there were 400 million people flying internationally within Europe in 2024, while cross-border rail users numbered only 150 million.

“I am not aware of any case where someone is required to sell a competitor’s product. Imagine if Lufthansa were required to sell Ryanair flight tickets,” said Mazzola.

According to Mazzola, the rule would also disadvantage investments in standalone booking platforms. The US-based online booking giant is expected to benefit more.

He added that cross-border journeys account for only seven per cent of total rail travel. The real issue, he argued, is limited rail infrastructure rather than ticketing.

Nevertheless, support came from the European Parliament. MEP Jan-Christoph Oetjen said the competition would benefit passengers.