The Commission proposed to make 2021 the European Year of Rail to support the delivery of its European Green Deal objectives in the transport field. A series of events, campaigns and initiatives in 2021 will promote rail as a sustainable, innovative and safe mode of transport. This proposal shall also help to step up the pace of rail modernisation, which is needed to make rail a more popular alternative to other transport modes.

New rules for rail passenegers, voted by the EP in April, will better protect and assist train travellers, by guaranteeing rerouting and helping passengers when their train is delayed or cancelled. The new law will also improve access and assistance to people with reduced mobility, and will help the introduction of more dedicated spaces for bicycles on trains.

2021 European Year of Rail

The European Parliament has always been a strong advocate of passenger rights irrespective of the mode of transport used. Its main aim is now to ensure that the texts adopted in recent years are properly applied.

Common rules have been drawn up in an effort to ensure that passengers receive at least a minimum level of assistance in the event of serious delays to or cancellation of their journey, irrespective of the mode of transport used, and, in particular, to protect more vulnerable travellers. The rules also provide for compensation schemes. A wide range of derogations may be granted for rail and road transport services, however, and court actions challenging the application of the rules are still common.

See more on this topic by visiting our <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/passenger-rights-8th-parliamentary-term_9702_pk">package</a> for the 8th parliamentary term.

Passenger rights

EP Plenary session - European Year of Rail (2021)

2021 European Year of Rail - Illustration of the railway station in Brussels

2021 European Year of Rail - Illustration of railroad maintenance in Mulhouse

2021 European Year of Rail - Illustration of the railway station in Strasbourg

2021 European Year of Rail - Illustration of the TGV technical center of Bischheim

EP plenary session - Rail passengers' rights and obligations

Press conference on Rail passengers' rights and obligations

BULC, Violeta  - Member of the EC in charge of Transport

Plenary session week 50 2016 in Strasbourg - Joint debate - Railway package

Plenary session week 50 2016 in Strasbourg.Joint debate - Railway package

Seminar for journalists

Press seminar on the Railway Package : Completing the single European railway area.

Press seminar on the Railway Package : Completing the single European railway area. Introduction by the Chair of Committee on Transport and Tourism - Exchange of views with journalists

STYLIANIDES, Christos (EC) - Member of the EC in charge of Humanitarian Aid & Crisis Management

Plenary session week 23 2016 in Strasbourg - Competitiveness of the European rail supply industry

Siim KALLAS ,Commissioner  in charge of transport

Plenary session week 9 2014 - Strasbourg - Railway package

Plenary session week 9 2014 - Railway safety

Demonstration of the European Railway men inf ront of the European Parliament headquarter in Strasbourg

Single European Railway Area in Strasbourg

MEPs debated and approved the agreement with member states on the revised rules on rail passengers’ rights. The rules will guarantee that passengers can be re-routed and receive help when there are delays and cancellations. Access and assistance will improve for people with reduced mobility, and there will be more dedicated spaces for bicycles. Extracts from the debate with Bogusław LIBERADZKI (S&D, PL), Rapporteur, Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Sven SCHULZE (EPP, DE), Johan DANIELSSON (S&D, SE) and José Ramón BAUZÁ DÍAZ (Renew, ES), announcement of the results and illustrative shots.

Rail passengers' rights and obligations: extracts from the debate (28/04) and from the vote (29/04)

During the plenary session (26-29 April 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on rail passengers' rights and obligations.

Rail passengers' rights and obligations: MEPs debate (recast)

During the plenary session (26-29 April 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on rail passengers' rights and obligations (recast): opening statements by Bogusław LIBERADZKI (S&D, PL), rapporteur and by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Rail passengers' rights and obligations: opening statements by Bogusław LIBERADZKI (S&D, PL), rapporteur and by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs (recast)

During the plenary session (26-29 April 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on rail passengers' rights and obligations (recast): closing statement by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs.

Rail passengers' rights and obligations: closing statement by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs (recast)

This infoclip illustrates the tests of the world's 1st hydrogen powered train. The Coradia iLint trains will be operated on nearly 100 kilometers of line running between Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervorde and Buxtehude in Germany: views inside the train, passengers compartment, Hydrogen station, production factory of the train.

Infoclip: Railway - EU technology - Hydrogen train

The EU established a set of basic rights for rail passengers. These rights provide for all passengers, including those with reduced mobility, a harmonised minimum level of protection, information and assistance. Bogusław LIBERADZKI (S&D, PL), Rapporteur, gives a statement following the vote on his report by the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN). The vote was approved by 36 for, 6 against and 4 abstentions.

Railway regulation - passengers rights and obligations: statement by Bogusław LIBERADZKI (S&D, PL), TRAN Committee

This infoclip illustrates the freight transport by rail and the Intermodal freight transport by container. Views of the Rhine Europe Terminals (RET), which is responsible for managing the container and heavy package terminals in Strasbourg and containers loading on trains. 2021 has been designated European Year of Rail, to stir debate on railways’ contribution to the European Green Deal and the environment.

Infoclip: Railway - Freight transport

During the plenary session (14-17/12) of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on the European Year of Rail (2021). Statement by Anna DEPARNAY-GRUNENBERG (Greens/EFA, DE), Rapporteur, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport, Benoît LUTGEN (EPP, BE), Izaskun BILBAO BARANDICA (RE, ES), and Jakop DALUNDE (Greens/EFA, SE).

2021 European Year of Rail: extracts from the debate

This Infoclip illustrates various construction and maintenance sites to ensure transport safety and network improvement in the region of Alsace (France).

Infoclip: Railway - Development and maintenance site

This Infoclip illustrates the accessibility of railway infrastructure for a person with reduced mobility at the Station of Strasbourg: arrival, pick up by a steward from the station, assistance for access to the train.

Infoclip: Railway - Accessibility for people with reduced mobility

This Infoclip illustrates general atmosphere in the railway station of Brussels, Strasbourg and Karlsruhe.

Infoclip: Railway - Passenger transport

This infoclip illustrates the Intermodality from railway stations to other means of transport such as buses, taxis, trams,..

Infoclip: Railway - Intermodality from stations

This Infoclip illustrates people arriving with bicycles in the station and getting on the trains in Strasbourg, Brussels and Karlsruhe.

Infoclip: Railway - Accessibility for bicycles in trains

David SASSOLI, EP President and Michael ROTH, German Minister of State for Europe, sign various legislative acts in the European Parliament in Brussels

Lex Signing ceremony in presence of David SASSOLI, EP President and Michael ROTH, German Minister of State for Europe

This infoclip illustrates the prevention measures taken in the rail transport sector during the Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak in France. Travellers are invited to wear a face mask when they enter in the railway station and respect the distancing measures in the area. Special stickers are installed inside the station.

Infoclip: Covid-19 - Prevention measures: Rail transport

During the plenary session in the European Parliament in Brussels (13-16 May 2020), announcement of results of the first voting session: final vote New MFF, own resources and Recovery plan, vote on the amendments to the reports,macro-financial assistance to enlargement and neighbourhood partners in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic crisis Temporary measures concerning the operation of air services, temporary measures concerning the validity of certificates and licences(omnibus), port infrastructure charges, 4th railway package; extension of the transposition periods

Announcement of results of the first voting session

Vote on Brexit contingency measures: Rules relating to the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund by reason of the UK’s withdrawal from the Union, Fishing authorisations for Union fishing vessels in United Kingdom waters and fishing operations of United Kingdom fishing vessels in Union waters and certain aspects of railway safety and connectivity with regard to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the Union during the plenary session in Strasbourg (11-14/03/2019)

Votes: Brexit contingency measures

This infoclip illustrates the railway network in the EU and multimodality

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