Streamlining International Train Ticket Purchases to Become Easier in Certain Scenarios - Commencing This Year - Easier procurement of international train tickets partway in the current year
International train travel set for significant ease with German Railways and European partners
Travelers planning international trips via train will soon encounter a smoother and more seamless ticketing process, particularly with German Railways (Deutsche Bahn, DB) and for countries such as Switzerland and Austria.
Currently, purchasing tickets for international train journeys presents some challenges. These tickets must be obtained through the international-bahn.de website, which can prove inconvenient if connecting trains are missed due to delays, leaving passenger rights unprotected. However, this is poised to change with the introduction of a new digital infrastructure.
Come autumn 2025, DB will implement a digital infrastructure based on the Open Sales and Distribution Model (OSDM), a EU-endorsed interface that will integrate with other European rail operators' ticketing systems. This development will enable DB to sell tickets for most major European railways via its website and DB Navigator app.
In the near future, travelers will be able to book tickets for cross-border journeys with Switzerland and Austria directly and effortlessly through DB channels. By the end of next year, the goal is to make cross-border rail travel as straightforward as domestic journeys, supported by EU regulations and unified digital systems.
In addition to streamlining the process for German Railways, DB's efforts are part of a broader push to simplify travel across Europe's diverse rail networks. This includes cooperation with neighboring countries for easier ticket purchases for cross-border journeys.
The EU is also expected to propose legislation this year, making passenger rights to rebooking and reimbursement mandatory, further enhancing the travel experience.
The changes aim to provide more streamlined and integrated booking processes for international train travelers, ultimately improving the user experience.
[1] Year - DB to simplify international train travel with new digital infrastructure[2] Year - EU to propose passenger rights legislation for seamless international train travel[3] Year - DB to cooperate with European partners for streamlined cross-border ticketing[4] Year - DB to launch app enabling seamless purchasing of major European railway tickets through smartphones and computers.
The Commission may consider extending the Community guarantee to include financing for the EIB's operations in the field of research and technological development within the industry, potentially leading to advancements that could benefit the transportation sector.
With DB streamlining international train travel, the industry of transportation could witness a significant boost, as seamless travel experiences encourage more people to choose train travel over other modes of transport.
