The European Union (EU) has moved to improve rules to simplify cross-border rail travel, but critics say the coverage of international rail tickets and protections for transferring passengers need to be strengthened. Complex booking procedures are preventing airline passengers from switching to rail travel, the analysis said.

CleanTechnica reported on Oct. 12 local time that European environmental group Transport & Environment (T&E) assessed the EU’s “passenger package” as “progress in improving convenience for rail use, but insufficient to meet climate goals.”

The passenger package proposed by the European Commission in May centres on allowing passengers to buy tickets from different rail operators in a single purchase and guaranteeing passenger rights even if a connection is missed.

But T&E said the scope of the current proposal effectively remains focused on neighbouring countries, making it difficult to revitalise long-distance international rail travel.

In a survey commissioned by T&E, 61 percent of long-distance rail users were found to have abandoned taking a train at least once because of complex booking procedures.

T&E proposed expanding obligations so major rail operators must sell integrated tickets for journeys that connect EU member-state capitals within 1,500 km and involve no more than 2 transfers. The Brussels-to-Madrid route is a representative case.

Differences among operators in when tickets go on sale were also cited as an issue to address. T&E argued that even if France’s SNCF and Spain’s Renfe have different booking start dates, passengers should retain rights for the full journey if they add segments on the same platform.

It also called for the right to take an alternative train run by another operator when a transfer is missed due to delays. It said passengers should not be made to wait only for the next train of a specific company.

T&E stressed that these improvements are needed for long-distance rail to establish itself as a practical alternative to flights and to contribute to cutting EU greenhouse gas emissions.