4/26
CIV Committee Meeting in Luxembourg: Key Developments in European Passenger Rail Transport
CIT CIV Committee met in Luxembourg to discuss major legislative developments and passenger rights, as well as to make decisions regarding CIT products and ticketing. Chaired by Isabelle Saintilan (Eurostar), the meeting brought together CIT member representatives to review ongoing initiatives and agree on next steps.
The meeting was held in hybrid format at CFL premises in Luxembourg. CIV Committee Chair Isabelle Saintilan (Eurostar) welcomed participants together with CIT Chair Maria Sack, who attended the meeting in person, and CIV Committee Vice-Chair Alberto Gallo (Trenitalia).
In her opening remarks, Maria Sack emphasised the importance of closely monitoring the European Commission proposed Passenger Package, encouraging Committee members to familiarise themselves with the topic to ensure that the rail sector’s concerns are addressed.
European Passenger Package at the centre of discussions
A key item on the agenda was the European Commission Passenger Package, which was published on 13 May 2026. This includes a targeted revision of the Rail Passenger Rights Regulation, as well as proposed Rail Ticketing and Multimodal Booking Regulations.
Under the Rail PRR 'single ticket' proposal, passengers would receive better protection when booking journeys involving several separate transport contracts purchased as part of a single commercial transaction. The proposed measures include provisions on continuation of journeys following missed connections, reimbursement, re-routing, assistance and compensation over the whole passenger journey.
The targeted revision of the Rail PRR raises important questions, such as: who should be held responsible when several events cause passengers to miss their connection, resulting in a disrupted journey? Should costs be shared between the railway undertakings involved? These issues are particularly relevant for international journeys, where a railway undertaking operating only a short section of a route could potentially become liable for consequences affecting the entire travel chain.
The CIV Committee also emphasised the close link between the Rail PRR 'single ticket' proposal and the Rail Passenger Rights Regulation, as well as the need to review the new European Technical Specification for Interoperability relating to Telematics Applications for Rail (TEL TSI) with regard to 'Minimum Connection Times'.
Updating CIT products and improving passenger information
Another important part of the meeting concerned revising existing CIT products to reflect changing legal requirements and operational needs.
The Committee approved amendments to the Agreement on Journey Continuation (AJC), including provisions concerning travel chains involving non-participating railway undertakings and planned rail replacement services. Members also supported the idea of making an overview of applicable AJC exemptions and limitations publicly available to improve transparency for passengers.
Furthermore, the CIV Committee approved a revised edition of the General Conditions of Carriage (GCC-CIV/PRR) to make the rules easier to understand while maintaining the applicable legal requirements. Amendments to the Manual for International Rail Tickets (MIRT) and the CIT Glossary were also approved to reflect developments in European ticketing standards and terminology.
These amendments, together with changes to the Agreement on Claims Handling (AIV), are scheduled to enter into force on 13 December 2026.
Looking ahead
Looking further ahead, the next Bernese Days will take place on 10 and 11 June 2027 in Bern, marking the 125th anniversary of CIT. The event will provide an opportunity to discuss current challenges and the future of international passenger transport.
Last but not least, the CIV Committee nominated Willem Maarten van Luijn (NS) as its candidate for CIV Committee Chair, to be submitted to the CIT General Assembly for approval.
The CIV Committee also expressed its sincere thanks to CIV Committee Chair Isabelle Saintilan (Eurostar) and Vice-Chair Alberto Gallo (Trenitalia) for their excellent leadership during their mandates, and for their strong support of the CIT’s work and activities over the last six years.
Visit to the Court of Justice of the European Union
Following the CIV Committee's statutory meeting, participants had the opportunity to visit the Court of Justice of the European Union. They learned more about this important institution and why the General Court might now have jurisdiction for preliminary rulings in passenger rights (see also the article published in (CIT News 3/2026).
CIT would like to thank CFL for kindly hosting the CIV Committee at its premises in Luxembourg and for its excellent cooperation in organising this event.