2004-11-20
In the next few days, the Transport Committee of the European Parliament will debate a proposed regulation on passengers' rights and obligations on international long-distance trains. This proposal, developed by the European Commission in consultation with - passengers and the railway industry, is an important next step in the liberalisation process, intended to revitalise the EU railway market. In essence, the Commission's proposals aim to promote international rail travel by creating a legal framework which offers a guaranteed protection of the rights of passengers.
The European Passengers' Federation (EPF) - an independent federation of 17 EU passenger organisations - strongly supports the Commission's initiative. The proposal, which has been submitted to the Transport Committee proposes an improved legal basis for dealing with the consequences of delays, lack of information, loss of luggage and other problems faced by passengers on international train services.
EPF is, however, seriously disappointed to see that MEP and rapporteur for the Transport Committee, Mr Dirk Sterckx, has proposed amendments, which would limit the benefits to which passengers would be entitled when things go wrong. Instead Mr Sterckx appears to favour fewer obligations being imposed on the railway industry, allowing them to continue to provide minimal, and in some cases no recompense when they fail to deliver the quality of service to which their customers - passengers - should be entitled.
EPF asks all members of the Transport Committee to carefully consider the importance to their constituents of the proposed regulation. By denying passengers a legal framework under which they can be compensated for poor service quality, more people will turn to low cost air companies, cars and coaches. This will add to the environmental problems facing Europe - more congestion in the air and on the roads and more road deaths. If the Transport Committee is serious about optimizing EU rail travel, EPF asks members to support proposals to give passengers greater rights, as proposed by the European Commission.