The European Commission wants to make train travel across Europe much simpler by allowing passengers to buy one single ticket covering journeys operated by different rail companies across multiple EU countries. Under the proposed reform, travellers would also receive stronger passenger protections if delays or cancellations cause them to miss connections during international journeys.

For many travellers, booking flights across Europe with different airlines is already straightforward. Doing the same by train can quickly become complicated, expensive or sometimes impossible, especially when multiple operators are involved. Brussels now wants to change that as part of a broader effort to make rail travel more attractive across the European Union.

The proposal would force train operators to share ticketing data with online sales platforms and, in some cases, even allow competitors to sell their tickets. EU officials say the goal is to remove barriers that currently make cross border rail travel frustrating for millions of passengers.

The reform could become one of the biggest changes to European rail travel in years if approved.

Why train travel across Europe can still feel surprisingly difficult

Travelling across several European countries by train sounds simple in theory. In reality, many passengers discover the system becomes far more complicated once different national operators are involved.

A traveller going from Spain to Germany or from Belgium to Italy may need to buy several separate tickets across different websites, each with different rules, conditions and refund policies.

Sometimes routes are not even displayed together despite connecting perfectly in practice.

One of the biggest problems appears when delays happen. Under current rules, if passengers buy separate tickets and miss a connection because the first train arrives late, they are not always protected for the rest of the journey. In some cases, travellers must buy completely new tickets themselves.

That uncertainty has discouraged many people from choosing rail for long international trips, even as Europe pushes greener transport alternatives.

The European Commission now wants to simplify the process by encouraging what it calls ‘multimodal cross border journeys’ through integrated ticketing systems.

EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas said the reform is designed to make travelling across all 27 member states “simpler, smarter and more comfortable”.

According to the Commission, passengers should eventually be able to plan, compare and buy international rail journeys much more easily through online platforms.

What the new EU train ticket rules would actually change

The proposed legislation would require railway companies to make ticket and timetable data available to online booking platforms.

That means passengers searching for routes across Europe could see different operators combined within the same booking system rather than needing to jump between multiple websites.

The proposal also targets competition inside the rail market.

If a railway operator controls more than 50 per cent of a market, it may be required to display competing offers and even allow rival companies to sell its tickets if requested.

Brussels believes this could help increase transparency and keep prices competitive for passengers.

Online ticket platforms would also have to present offers “neutrally and transparently” under the proposed rules. But for many travellers, the biggest change concerns passenger rights.

The Commission wants passengers buying multi operator journeys in a single transaction to receive one combined ticket covering the entire route. That would mean stronger legal protections if disruptions occur during the trip.

If a delay causes a missed connection, passengers could gain access to rerouting, reimbursement, accommodation assistance and compensation rights even when different companies operate different parts of the journey.

Responsibility would be shared between operators.

The company causing the delay would have to handle reimbursements or compensation, while the operator responsible for the missed onward connection would need to help passengers continue their journey.

At the moment, those protections often disappear once separate tickets are involved.

Brussels sees rail reform as part of Europe’s green future

The Commission also sees the reform as part of its broader climate and transport strategy.

European officials have spent years trying to encourage more people to switch from short haul flights and car travel towards rail, which generally produces lower emissions.

Transport accounts for roughly a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions inside the EU, making it one of the most difficult sectors for Europe’s climate ambitions.

Brussels believes simpler ticketing could help convince more travellers to choose trains for international journeys. There is also clear public demand for easier booking systems.

A recent Eurobarometer survey found that around one in four Europeans experienced problems trying to book rail journeys involving different train operators. For people living near borders or in rural areas, fragmented rail systems can make international travel unnecessarily stressful.

European Commission Vice President Raffaele Fitto said improving rail connectivity is also about strengthening cohesion and reducing invisible barriers inside the single market.

The reform still needs approval from EU member states and the European Parliament before becoming law, meaning implementation could take time.

Even so, the proposal signals how serious Brussels has become about reshaping European rail travel.

For travellers frustrated by juggling multiple bookings, unclear passenger rights and disconnected train systems, the changes could eventually make cross border rail journeys feel much closer to booking a single international flight.

And for Europe’s rail industry, it may mark the start of a more connected network where travelling from one side of the continent to the other becomes far easier than it is today.

Former Danish monarch Margrethe II has been admitted to hospital in Copenhagen after suffering angina, according to the Danish Royal House. The 86-year-old was taken to Rigshospitalet today Thursday, May 14, and is expected to remain there over the weekend for observation and further examinations. The Danish court confirmed in a statement that the former queen was hospitalised due to “heart cramps”, the Danish term commonly used for angina pectoris, a condition caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.

Officials said she was “tired, but in good spirits”. Margrethe cancelled a planned engagement earlier in the day before the announcement of her hospitalisation. Danish media reported growing concern after her absence from recent public appearances. No further medical details have yet been released by the royal household, and it remains unclear whether additional treatment will be required following the examinations.

Health concerns have increased in recent years

The hospital admission follows a series of health problems affecting the former queen in recent years. In 2023, Margrethe underwent major back surgery, spending several weeks recovering before returning to public duties. She later referred to the operation during her New Year speech announcing her abdication, saying it had caused her to reflect on her future role and responsibilities. She was also hospitalised in September 2024 after falling at Fredensborg Castle, suffering injuries including a fractured wrist and damage to vertebrae in her neck.

Although she later recovered, the incident renewed public discussion in Denmark about her health and advancing age. In May 2025, the former queen spent several days in hospital after becoming ill with a cold. Despite these setbacks, she has continued to take part in selected royal events, cultural engagements and family occasions since stepping down from the throne. Most recently, Margrethe attended celebrations connected to the 80th birthday of Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and events marking the anniversary of Denmark’s liberation during the Second World War.

Abdication brought end to historic reign

Margrethe abdicated on January 14 2024 after 52 years on the Danish throne, formally handing power to her eldest son, King Frederik X. The decision surprised many people in Denmark, where monarchs traditionally remain on the throne for life. She became queen in January 1972 following the death of her father, King Frederik IX, and went on to become the longest-serving monarch in Danish history.

During her reign she remained one of Denmark’s most recognisable and popular public figures, known for her direct manner and annual New Year speeches watched by millions across the country. Beyond her constitutional role, Margrethe also became known for her artistic and cultural interests. She worked as an illustrator, costume designer and translator, contributing to theatre productions, films and book projects over several decades.

Public attention focused on Copenhagen hospital

News of the former queen’s hospitalisation quickly attracted widespread attention across Denmark and other European countries, with Danish broadcasters interrupting regular programming to provide updates from the royal household. Large numbers of Danes continue to follow developments involving Margrethe despite her abdication, reflecting her long-standing place in Danish public life and the continuing popularity of the monarchy.

The Danish Royal House said further updates would be provided if there were significant developments in her condition. For now, Margrethe remains under medical observation at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen while doctors continue examinations.

Electric scooters and other personal electric transporters capable of travelling above 25km/h will be confiscated in Gibraltar from  May 18 under new government regulations aimed at tightening road safety rules.

The measures form part of Gibraltar’s first formal framework regulating Personal Light Electric Transporters (PLETs), a category that includes electric scooters and similar battery-powered vehicles increasingly used for commuting across the territory and nearby areas of southern Spain.

New enforcement powers introduced

Under the new rules, Gibraltar authorities will be able to stop and inspect electric scooters using mobile speed detection equipment. Any scooter found travelling above 25km/h, or modified to exceed that speed, may be seized by enforcement officers.

The Gibraltar Government said vehicles capable of travelling faster than the legal limit will no longer qualify as PLETs under local regulations. Owners will only be able to recover confiscated scooters once the vehicle has been altered to comply with the law or formally registered as an electric vehicle through Gibraltar’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Department.

The measures were announced as part of a broader effort to regulate the growing use of electric transport devices on Gibraltar’s roads and public spaces. Officials have raised concerns over safety risks involving pedestrians, road users and riders themselves, particularly in busy areas with high traffic levels.

Rules will affect daily cross-border commuters

The changes are expected to affect many workers and residents who cross daily between La Línea de la Concepción and Gibraltar using electric scooters. Thousands of people travel across the border each day for work, with scooters becoming a popular alternative to cars due to congestion and limited parking inside Gibraltar.

For those commuting from Spain into Gibraltar, the new regulations mean scooters must comply with Gibraltar’s speed restrictions even if they were legally purchased or used elsewhere. Riders entering Gibraltar on modified scooters or high-speed models risk having the vehicle confiscated once inside the territory.

The regulations apply within Gibraltar regardless of where the scooter is registered or purchased. This means some commuters who use scooters legally on the Spanish side of the border may still face enforcement action after crossing into Gibraltar if their vehicle exceeds the permitted speed limit.

Helmet and insurance rules also under review

The Gibraltar Government has indicated that additional regulations may follow in later stages of the legislative process. Authorities are examining whether further requirements, including compulsory insurance, registration systems and helmet use, should apply to electric scooter riders in future.

At present, the newly announced measures focus mainly on speed restrictions and vehicle classification. Officials say the intention is to establish clear rules before the number of electric scooters on Gibraltar’s roads continues to rise further. Mobile enforcement equipment will be used to identify scooters exceeding legal limits, although the government has not yet detailed how frequently checks will take place or whether they will be concentrated near the border crossing area.

Growing use of electric scooters across the region

Electric scooters have become increasingly common throughout Gibraltar and the Campo de Gibraltar region over recent years. Many cross-border workers rely on them for short journeys between transport hubs, workplaces and residential areas.However, the rapid growth in scooter use has also led to concerns over speeding, pavement riding and collisions involving pedestrians. Similar restrictions have already been introduced in several European countries and Spanish municipalities, where local authorities have imposed speed limits and technical requirements on electric scooters.

In Spain, national traffic regulations already set a maximum speed of 25km/h for electric scooters classed as personal mobility vehicles. Scooters capable of exceeding that limit are generally prohibited from public roads unless approved under different vehicle categories. Gibraltar’s new regulations therefore bring local rules more closely in line with existing Spanish standards, although enforcement procedures may differ.

What riders need to know before crossing into Gibraltar

People travelling into Gibraltar on electric scooters are now being advised to check the technical specifications of their vehicle before crossing the border. Riders using modified scooters or models capable of speeds above 25km/h could face confiscation even if they are not actively travelling above the limit at the time of inspection.

Commuters may also need to ensure any speed-limiting software installed on their scooters cannot easily be overridden, as authorities are expected to examine whether vehicles are capable of exceeding legal limits rather than simply monitoring riding speed alone.

The regulations are scheduled to come into force on May 18. Gibraltar authorities have said the measures are intended to improve public safety and establish clearer legal standards for electric transport vehicles operating within the territory.