Brussels, 07/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 7 July, at a plenary session, the European Parliament voted on the own initiative report of Dieter-Lebrecht Koch (EPP, Germany), which focuses on the possibility of setting up an integrated multimodal ticketing system in Europe.
The aim is to set up a comprehensive information system at a European level in the long term for consumers about the different modes of transport (air, road, railway, maritime) in an effort to provide a “continuous door-to-door multimodal cross-border solution”.
The German MEP explained: “In our modern and online times, we must be able to create a more integrated ticket. This would make the lives of travellers so much easier. It doesn't need to stay a dream, let's start working on this now”.
His non-amended version of the report from the Parliamentary committee was voted for by a very large majority (592 votes in favour, 62 against, with 52 abstentions). The report calls on member states to improve their national information systems on timetables and pricing by 2020 at the latest, as well as implement “smart information transmission systems in real time” (under existing European legislation, particularly the 2010/40/EU directive for introducing smart transport systems in the road sector and Regulation 454/2011 on the technical specification of interoperability in the trans-European railway system).
MEPs have also chosen 2024 as the final deadline for launching “a cross-border network for national information systems on timetables and tariffs”. This will help develop multimodal and cross-border journey planners in the long term.
The European Parliament is also calling on the European Commission to “take the necessary measures” if by 2020 no substantial progress has been observed and to draw up a charter of passenger rights that covers all the different modes of transport.
The report reiterates the 2011 White Paper on the future of European transport. Together with the EUROPE 2020 Strategy, this provides the strategic foundations for a single European transport area. This White Paper is currently the subject of a mid-term review (see EUROPE 11324). (Pascal Hansens)