Today, the Transport and Tourism Committee at the European Parliament has voted its  amendments on the Recast Regulation 1371/2007 on Passengers’ Rights and Obligations.

The proposal foresees strengthened rights for all rail passengers, including people with reduced mobility (PRMs), and provides amendments to the Regulation in terms of accessibility of information, rights in situation of delays, missed connections or train cancellations. The Regulation also enhances the complaints-handling procedure, the force-majeure scenarios and the assistance to PRMs.

The TRAN Committee adopted the EP report, coordinated under the rapporteur Boguslaw Liberadzki and the shadow rapporteurs Michael Cramer, Renaud Muselier, Tania González Peñas, Tomasz Poreba and Jens Rohde, by 39 votes in favour, 2 against and 6 abstentions.

EIM – the Association representing rail infrastructure managers in Europe – welcomes the final TRAN report but would like to see further clarification on the real-time data to be made available by Infrastructure and Station Managers. EIM is further concerned by the pre- and no pre-notification mobility assistance service and calls for a two years implementation phase following the date of compliance of the regulation in order to ensure a safe, punctual and high quality service.

Monika Heiming, EIM’s Executive Director, said: “EIM and its Members are fully committed in ensuring smooth and high-quality rail services to the benefit of all passengers in Europe. Enhanced rail passengers’ rights will contribute to a level-playing and competitive transport field and the railway sector is working towards full accessibility and availability of the railway infrastructure and services.”