EU Officials Plan Rules Requiring Railways to Sell Rivals' Tickets

Officials will unveil plans Wednesday that could require railway companies to sell rivals' tickets directly on their websites and share data with independent booking platforms. The goal is to make it easier for passengers to complete international journeys on a single ticket rather than buying separate segments from different operators.

The proposals would apply across the European Union and seek to remove long-standing barriers that force travelers to use multiple booking systems for cross-border trips.

Under the plans, railway operators would need to make rivals' services available through their own sales channels and provide timetable and pricing data to third-party platforms. If adopted, the rules could reduce complexity for passengers planning travel between countries where different national railways operate.

Many current international journeys require separate tickets, which can complicate refunds, seat reservations and connections when delays occur.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to encourage rail travel over short-haul flights within the bloc. Officials have identified fragmented ticketing as one of the main obstacles preventing greater use of trains for journeys between member states. Railway companies would face new obligations to cooperate with competitors and independent platforms under the proposed measures.

The plans stop short of creating a single centralized booking system but aim to create a more interconnected sales environment. Implementation would depend on final approval by EU institutions following the Wednesday release of the detailed proposals. Industry groups and consumer organizations are expected to review the measures and provide feedback during a consultation period.