Robert Sturdy welcomes EU-wide rail tickets plan
Brussels, 5th May 2011 — Proposals, put forward by the European Commission today, aimed at creating a unified system for booking rail tickets right across the EU, were received enthusiastically by Robert Sturdy, Conservative Member of the European Parliament for the East of England.
The proposals would create a single Computerised Reservation System, similar to that of airlines, which would enable passengers to book train tickets to destinations across the Continent without having to book separately in each country. The plans will make it much easier for British consumers to have the option of choosing rail for shorter journeys across much of Europe.
Included in the Commission’s proposals is a new regulation that will standardise key ticketing and reservation information that will be followed next year with interoperability of travel operators’ IT systems. Travellers would then be able to reserve journeys right across the EU far more easily than under the current fragmented system which sees consumers trying to negotiate hard-to-fathom foreign websites and different ticketing systems.
Mr Sturdy said:
“These proposals are great news not just for British travellers, but also to the millions of Europeans that choose the UK for their holidays every year.”
” It is great news that European visitors to our shores will be able to travel by train with a lot less hassle and inconvenience.”
“This is a good example of when European legislation can have a positive impact on the UK.”
Ends
For further information contact: Robert Sturdy MEP– robert.sturdy@europarl.europa.eu
Tel: 01954 211790 or 0032 2284 7294.
