| Subject: Will Europe revolutionize train travel with this new reservation system? |
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Dive into the heart of the evolution of train travel in Europe with a revolutionary new reservation system. Explore the details of this innovation that promises to transform the rail passenger experience.
The end of the cross-border booking headache #
Booking international tickets is sometimes a headache due to the complexity of fare offers and the difficulty of finding your itinerary. Currently, travelers must juggle multiple sites and ticketing systems to plan a trip that crosses multiple European countries. This fragmentation complicates cross-border travel and discourages many potential travelers.
A clear objective: unify the European railway network #
Ursula von der Leyen, recently reappointed president of the European Commission, wants to put an end to the fragmentation of the European network into 27 national systems. His ambitious plan unveils a “unique reservation system» at the level of the European Union. This project aims to allow Europeans to purchase a single ticket on a single platform, thus greatly simplifying cross-border travel.
The promise of a single digital platform #
The document published last Thursday details the initiative: “We will propose a regulation providing for a single digital reservation and ticketing system so that Europeans can buy a single ticket on a single platform», Promises Ursula von der Leyen. This unique ticketing system would be a major step forward for the development of rail transport, a largely carbon-free transport option, essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Europe.
Current obstacles to the development of rail in Europe #
The development of European rail still faces several major obstacles:
- High prices: International train journeys are often more expensive than their air equivalents.
- Dangerous connections: The lack of coordination between the different national networks complicates connections.
- Lack of coordination: There is not yet a central platform to compare and book all rail journeys in Europe.
A veritable patchwork of national systems makes the journey sometimes complicated, even discouraging for users.
Towards a “true European network” #
MEPs had already voted in March to improve the coordination of rail transport in the EU. They insisted on the need to plan traffic, financing and development projects in a concerted manner. Their objective: to transform this mosaic of national networks into a true European network.
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Between 1990 and 2021, the EU rail network lost more than 12,000 km, a trend that MEPs want to reverse.
A promising future for train travel in Europe #
If this project of “unique reservation system» succeeds, train travel across Europe could become a much more attractive alternative to air travel. Travelers will benefit from more affordable tickets, better coordination of connections and a single platform for booking their trips anywhere in Europe.
This ambitious project could revolutionize the way Europeans travel by train, providing a greener and more convenient transport solution for millions of people.
