Today Paris, tomorrow off to Berlin and next week onwards to Rome? Anyone who has travelled by train through Europe will know there are countless differences between the services, prices and timetables.
That is due to become easier as Brussels seeks to simplify travel across the bloc.
In future, passengers will be able to book connecting journeys involving multiple operators on a single online platform, under European Union plans.
You would also have a clearer overview of all available routes under the new measures. Currently it can be complex to piece together a trip between different countries.
In further good news, journeys booked in a single transaction would in future be treated as a single ticket.
Plus, passenger rights in the event of delays or cancellations are also set to improve.
Under the proposal, passengers who miss a connection due to delays would be entitled to reach their destination at no extra cost via alternative transport or to request a refund.
If they continue their journey, they would also be entitled to assistance such as meals or accommodation if an overnight stay is necessary.
They would also receive compensation equal to 50% of the ticket price for delays of more than two hours, and 25% for delays of at least one hour.
The railway operator responsible for the disruption would be liable for these rights, provided sufficient transfer time was scheduled.
Right now, cross-border rail passengers often must book separate tickets with different operators, leaving them with limited rights if missed connections occur.
While some rail companies already offer voluntary rebooking arrangements, these are not legally binding under EU law.
The European Commission's plans would require major ticket platforms to offer services from other rail operators that choose to participate in the shared booking process.
The proposal still needs formal approval from the European Parliament and EU member states.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to encourage a shift toward rail travel across Europe.
"With digital tools and integrated mobility services, Europeans will be able at the click of one button to plan, compare and purchase multimodal journeys across borders, while benefiting from stronger rail passenger rights, greater transparency and better protection every step of the way," says Apostolos Tzitzikostas, commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism.
