The Rail Passenger Rights Regulation 2021 (EU) 2021/782 gives railway passengers basic rights in EU law to refunds and minimum levels of service. As a regulation, it has mandatory application without the need for implementing legislation. Before this many countries, such as the United Kingdom, had no rights set in law for rail passengers. The Regulation creates minimum rights which every member state law, and every rail undertaking, may improve upon.
A 2007 version of the Regulation was updated by Regulation (EU) No 2021/782, applicable from June 7, 2023.
Contents The following is a summary of the Regulation's provisions:
article 3, definitions art 4, transport contract conditions governed by Annex I art 5, non-discriminatory contract conditions and tariffs on basis of nationality art 6, enables bikes on trains if it does not adversely affect rail art 7, obligations to passengers under this Regulation cannot be waived, but duties can be more favourable art 8, info on discontinuing services art 9, travel info, set out in Annex I and II art 10, tickets and reservations by ticket offices, machines, telephone, web or on board art 11, travel info and reservation art 12, through-tickets art 13, liability for passengers and luggage under Annex I art 14, insurance, obligations in Directive 95/18/EC art 9. art 15, advance payments art 16, if a railway contests responsibility for injury it should make every effort to help a passenger in claiming from a third party art 17, delay liability, Annex I. A passenger facing a delay of an hour or more may request a partial reimbursement of the price paid for the ticket art 18, reimbursement and re-routing art 19, compensation of ticket price: 25% of the ticket price for a 60-119 min delay, 50% for 120 min or more. Season tickets in accordance with company policy. Threshold claim is €4. art 20, assistance, kept informed. For delay over 60mins, free meals and refreshments if can reasonably be supplied on train or station, hotel or accommodation, transport from the train to railway station if blocked. art 21, disabled right to transport art 22, information art 23-25, accessibility and assistance on board, etc art 27, manage risks of security art 28, companies shall set up a complaint handling mechanism and make contact details widely known art 29, service quality standards art 30, info and enforcement art 31, Member States must designate national enforcement bodies arts 35-41, final provisions Annex I, Extract from Uniform Rules concerning the contract for international carriage of passengers and luggage by rail (CIV)
See also EU law Single European Railway Directive 2012 and Fourth Railway Package Flight Compensation Regulation 2004 Bus Passenger Rights Regulation 2011 UK enterprise law Railways in the UK
Notes
References E McGaughey, Principles of Enterprise Law: the Economic Constitution and Human Rights (Cambridge UP 2022) ch 15