New Rights for Rail Passengers

All rail passengers will enjoy a set of basic rights, including the right to transport for people with reduced mobility, when the regulation comes into force in late 2009. Today the European Parliament welcomes new rights for all rail passengers. The rights and obligations of rail passengers was originally intended to apply only to passengers on international journeys, but Labour MEPs fought hard to include passengers on domestic journeys, meaning train companies in the UK wont be able to avoid the legislation.

Under the deal now reached, all rail passengers will enjoy a set of basic rights, including:

companies' liability for passengers and their luggage;
compensation in the event delays on cross-boarder services will be 25% of the fare for a delay of 60 minutes and more and 50% for a delay of 120 minutes and more, if the operator can be held responsible for the delay;
and the right to transport of people with reduced mobility, including arrangements at unmanned stations;
each train must have a specially designated area for the carriage of baby carriages, wheelchairs, bicycles and sports equipment.

Speaking today Robert Evans MEP, member of the European Parliament's Transport Committe said: "When this regulation comes into force at the end of 2009, basic rights will be granted to all rail passengers on all railway journeys. Railway companies won't get away with treating their customers poorly anymore." "This agreement allows us to take another step in our plans to put consumers first and extend passenger rights to all transport sectors" said Socialist's Group Transport Spokesman Brian Simpson MEP.