BEUC NEWS - 5 November 2025

The European Commission today published its High-Speed Rail Action Plan, to get Europe’s railways back on track and make sustainable travel a more attractive and affordable option.

For too long, consumers have faced complex booking and ticketing, limited passenger rights, poor connections and underwhelming service quality when travelling across Europe by train.  

The EU’s new plan includes much of what BEUC had put forward as recommendations in its ‘Railway to Consumer Heaven’ paper.   

The Plan should provide much-needed investment (via a dedicated EU funding strategy) and technical harmonisation for Europe’s high-speed railways. It also aims to iron out the long-standing issue of cross-border ticketing, making it easier to plan and purchase journeys, with better passenger rights protection when using multiple rail operators. 

The mandate of the European Union Agency for Railways will also be revised, enabling the Agency to remove redundant national rules and issue authorisations and certifications more efficiently. There will also be legislation to support the development of a second-hand market for rolling stock allowing space for new entrants.

With the destination now set, high-speed implementation will now be key.