ForTheLoveOf
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- 7 Oct 2017
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I saw this post by @SickyNicky:
And read up a little more on the material behind what was voted for - a document approving changes to the current EC Regulation 1371/2007, which regulates passenger rail services.
I think some of the changes agreed to in that vote (see this PDF, which is relatively readable) are particularly significant. For example:
It's worth pointing out that the EU has recently decided:
Of course, Brexit may have some impact on this, but this appears to give the same protection on split international tickets that we currently have on split domestic tickets.
And read up a little more on the material behind what was voted for - a document approving changes to the current EC Regulation 1371/2007, which regulates passenger rail services.
I think some of the changes agreed to in that vote (see this PDF, which is relatively readable) are particularly significant. For example:
- Tickets are to become fully refundable (Recital 17, p.10) - though it's not clear whether this is intended to apply only to international tickets or not;
- The current exemption on paying compensation for delays occurring during extraordinary circumstances will be eliminated (Recital 21, p.12);
- The exemption of the application of the Regulation in question to domestic services will only be permitted for 12 months from the date of introduction of the Regulation (Amendment 37, p.18);
- Combinations of tickets purchased from the same source will now be considered to constitute one through ticket, and one through journey (Amendments 48 and 49, p.22);
- It will become permitted to take bicycles on all services (note that the Regulation will still be exempt-able in relation to 'urban' services) (Amendment 56, p.24);
- Any contractual clauses purporting to waive the rights granted in the Regulation will not be binding (Amendment 57, p.25);
- Except where "well justifiable grounds relating to security or antifraud policy or compulsory train reservation or reasonable commercial grounds, including limitation on space or seat availability" exist, it will be permitted to purchase tickets onboard the train (Amendment 67, p.29);
- Where no ticket office or accessible ticket machine is provided at the station, and no other means of purchasing a ticket in advance (it is not clear whether this is intended to extend to the likes of apps which sell e-tickets) exists, it will be permitted to purchase tickets onboard the train (Amendment 68, p.29);
- Most significantly, where a passenger holds a combination of tickets, his rights (w.r.t. compensation, assistance etc.) shall be exactly the same as those of a passenger holding just one ticket (Amendment 140, p.29);
- When a delay to the passenger's destination of 60 minutes or more occurs, or is predicted, or a cancellation of one or more service(s) occurs (regardless of whether or not this results in a 60+ minute delay), (Amendment 71-78, pp.31-34):
- (a) the right to take any next available service(s) to continue the journey, regardless of the company operating that service (i.e. TOC restricted tickets would become totally unrestricted) - or alternatively, to alternative transport at no extra cost (e.g. a taxi where services have stopped);
- (b) the right to abandon the journey and recommence it at a future date of the passenger's convenience (not more than 1 month after the re-establishment of normal service);
- (c) compensation will be payable on all ticket(s) held, at a sliding scale of 50% for 1 hour, 75% for 1.5 hours, and 100% for 2 hours (calculated with respect to the proportion of the ticket affected, e.g. based off half of the value of a return ticket for a delay to one leg thereof).