Regulation (EU) 2021/782 recast the 2007 rail passenger rights regime: stronger rerouting and reimbursement rights, a force-majeure carve-out from compensation, enhanced assistance and rules on through-tickets. In May 2026 the Commission reported on its implementation and proposed to extend full protection to single tickets combining several operators.
Scope and application
Regulation (EU) 2021/782 has applied since 7 June 2023 and replaced Regulation (EC) 1371/2007. It applies to all rail journeys and services in the Union provided by licensed railway undertakings. Member States may exempt urban, suburban and regional services and, temporarily, certain services with a significant part outside the Union; several core rights (non-discrimination, information, assistance for persons with reduced mobility, bicycle rules) cannot be exempted. The bicycle-space requirement for new and upgraded rolling stock (Art. 6(4)) applies from 7 June 2025.
Reimbursement and rerouting
Where a delay at the final destination of more than 60 minutes is reasonably expected, the passenger may choose between reimbursement, continuation or rerouting at the earliest opportunity, or rerouting at a later date. If the carrier does not offer rerouting within 100 minutes, the passenger may arrange it with another public transport provider at the carrier’s expense, within limits.
Compensation
Compensation is 25 % of the ticket price for delays of 60 to 119 minutes and 50 % for 120 minutes or more. Since the recast, no compensation is due where the delay is caused by extraordinary circumstances outside the carrier’s control — extreme weather, major natural disasters, public-health crises, third-party conduct such as trespass — though the reimbursement and assistance rights remain.
Through-tickets, assistance and PRM
A through-ticket is a single contract covering successive services; the rights then apply to the whole journey. Railway undertakings that are part of the same group must offer through-tickets, and those selling separate tickets must state clearly that they do not form a through-ticket. Assistance for persons with reduced mobility is free of charge, with a pre-notification period of up to 24 hours.
The 2026 implementation report and proposals
On 13 May 2026 the Commission adopted a report on the Regulation’s implementation (COM(2026) 228), finding stronger protection and fewer exemptions but limited availability of through-tickets for cross-border, multi-operator journeys. Together with it, the Commission proposed a regulation on rail ticketing (COM(2026) 232), a regulation on multimodal booking replacing Regulation (EC) 80/2009 (COM(2026) 231), and an amendment to Regulation 2021/782 on the protection of passengers with single tickets (COM(2026) 233). Passengers combining several operators in one ticket bought in a single transaction — on any platform — would receive full rights to assistance, rerouting, reimbursement and compensation on a missed connection. The proposals are in the ordinary legislative procedure.
Why it matters for SPNV and fleet economics
In German SPNV, passenger-rights costs are usually allocated by the Verkehrsvertrag; in a gross contract the authority bears revenue effects, in a net contract the operator. The force-majeure carve-out has reduced compensation exposure for infrastructure-caused delays only where the infrastructure manager’s conduct qualifies as an extraordinary circumstance, which it generally does not. For fleet specification, the PRM and bicycle-space obligations are hard requirements in new procurements.
Selected references
Regulation (EU) 2021/782 · COM(2026) 228 (implementation report) · COM(2026) 231, 232 and 233 (proposals of 13 May 2026) · TSI PRM.
Related topic notes
- Track access & capacity allocation · Track-access charges
- Fourth Railway Package · TSI · Safety certification & vehicle authorisation · ECM
- Freight corridors & combined transport · Passenger rights · State aid for rail · Altmark
Sources: European Commission, »One journey, one ticket, full rights«, 13 May 2026; COM(2026) 228.
Last reviewed: 19 October 2026.