Brussels, 03/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - With the entry into force, on Thursday 3 December, of EC Regulation No 1371/2007, rail passengers enjoy new rights protecting passengers and their personal belongings when travelling by rail anywhere in the European Union. Antonio Tajani, European Transport Commissioner, said: “These new rights protecting people travelling by rail promote reliable and high-quality rail passenger services”. He went on to say: “After establishing these rights for passengers travelling by air and rail, our next step will now be to protect those going by water or by bus and coach”. The Commission has presented provisions along these lines, with a view to their possible adoption next year.
The regulation which takes effect as of today will: - guarantee disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility non-discriminatory access to trains and assistance; - strengthen rail passengers' right to compensation when their luggage gets lost or damaged (up to about €1,285 per piece of luggage); - strengthen rail passengers' right in case of death or injury through an advance payment to meet immediate economic needs. This advance payment amounts to at least €21,000 per passenger in the event of death; - reinforce rail passengers' right to compensation in case their journey gets delayed or cancelled, the minimum compensation amounting to 25% of the ticket price for delays between one and up to two hours and to 50% of the ticket price for delays of two hours and more; - give rail passengers the right to be informed comprehensively before and during their journey, for example about delays; - make it easier for rail passengers to buy tickets; - impose the obligation on rail companies and station managers to ensure passengers' personal security in railway stations and on trains; - oblige rail companies to set up a complaint handling mechanism for the rights and obligations covered by the new regulation; - oblige member states to ensure that passengers can lodge a complaint with an independent body, if passengers consider that their rights have not been correctly implemented; - and extend the existing rights of passengers under the Convention for the International Carriage by Rail (COTIF), which only covers international transport, in principle, to all domestic train services.
To give time to railway undertakings to adapt to the new rules on passenger rights, member states can request not having to implement some of these rights for a period of up to 15 years for services limited to the national territory. As local services (i.e. urban, suburban or regional services) are different in character from long-distance services, member states can request permanent derogations for such services but not for cross-border services within the EU. (O.L./transl.jl)