Why European rail travel booking systems are ‘stuck in the Stone Age’

WorldTravel
23 Apr 2026 • 1:04 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

image is not available

  • A new report reveals that almost half of the European Union's busiest flight routes are either difficult or impossible to book via rail operators.
  • Research by Transport and Environment (T&E) found that 20 per cent of 30 top aviation routes were 'impossible' to book in one go on major rail platforms, with another 27 per cent only partially bookable.
  • More than half of journeys over 900km cannot be booked as a single ticket, with an example being the impossibility of booking a direct Barcelona to Paris rail journey on Spain's national railway website.
  • A YouGov survey commissioned by T&E indicated that 61 per cent of long-distance rail passengers have avoided journeys due to the perceived hassle of the booking process.
  • T&E is advocating for new EU regulations, specifically a 'Single Ticketing Package', to mandate commercial negotiations between rail operators and booking platforms, ensuring seamless, single-ticket bookings across Europe.

IN FULL

Newswav Malaysia Best News App

Newswav is an online content aggregator and obtains its content from different online sources. The content in the app do not belong to Newswav nor do they reflect the opinions of Newswav and its staff. Your use of this app indicates your understanding and acceptance of this information.

Newswav Sdn. Bhd. (201701008480 (1222645-M)) 2026 All Rights Reserved