Proposal for a European year of rail 2021

European travellers are increasingly concerned about the environment and would like to benefit from more sustainable transport alternatives than planes or private cars. To achieve the objectives of the "European Green deal" to diminish of 90% of the transport emissions by 2050, rail can be a game changer and must be promoted for short and long-distance mobility. However, currently the number of train users is still low for various reasons: rail passengers do not always enjoy sufficient protection for their entire journey and have difficulties to compare and book offers. This situation led to a lack of confidence in rail. The proposal to make 2021 the year of the rail, should be an opportunity to create a consumer-oriented rail system that better match users’ needs to make rail a real option for travellers.

The paper tackles: 

• Strengthening passenger trust on rail transport by introducing robust passenger rights.
• Taking the opportunity to make rail more convenient and attractive for passengers.