EUR-Lex Access to European Union law
This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Rail passenger rights
This summary has been archived and will not be updated. See
'EU rail passengers’ rights'
for an updated information about the subject.
Rail passenger rights
SUMMARY OF:
Regulation (EC) No 1371/2007 on rail passengers’ rights and obligations
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?
It aims at establishing rights and obligations for rail passengers in order to protect them particularly when travel is disrupted, and to improve the efficiency and attractiveness of rail passenger services.
KEY POINTS
Scope
Passengers’ rights
Rail passengers have the following basic rights:
Transport contract and information
Passengers should be given clear and accessible information:
The information provided to persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility shall be in an accessible format.
Delays and cancellations
In the case of a delay of more than 60 minutes in the arrival at final destination, passengers have the right to:
If passengers do not opt for reimbursement but for continuation of the journey, they may claim a minimum compensation equivalent to:
In the case of a delay in arrival or departure of more than 60 minutes, passengers have the right to:
Persons with disability and reduced mobility
The EU rail passenger rights legislation will ensure that persons with disability and reduced mobility can travel in a way that is comparable to other citizens. Thus, the regulation gives them the following rights:
Security, complaints and service quality
Enforcement by EU countries
EU countries must designate an independent body or bodies in charge of the enforcement of the regulation. Passengers can submit a complaint to any of these bodies if they feel that their rights have not been respected.
EU countries must also set up effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions for infringements of the regulation.
FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?
It has applied since 3 December 2009.
BACKGROUND
For more information, see:
Following the COVID-19 outbreak and introducing measures to cope with the impact of the crisis, the European Commission adopted:
MAIN DOCUMENT
Regulation (EC) No 1371/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on rail passengers’ rights and obligations (OJ L 315, 3.12.2007, pp 14-41)
RELATED DOCUMENTS
Directive 2012/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 November 2012 establishing a single European railway area (recast) (OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, pp. 32-77)
Successive amendments to Directive 2012/34/EU have been incorporated into the original document. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
Communication from the Commission — Interpretative Guidelines on Regulation (EC) No 1371/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council on rail passengers' rights and obligations (OJ C 220, 4.7.2015, pp. 1-10)
Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on Exemptions granted by Member States under Regulation (EC) 1371/2007 on rail passengers' rights and obligations (COM(2015) 117 final, 11.3.2015)
last update 19.03.2020