BRUSSELS, 22 January 2024: The EU Commission last week accepted the Spanish state-owned passenger rail incumbent Renfe’s commitments to a fairer, more transparent market – a step that ALLRAIL welcomes.

These commitments, now legally binding, constitute a positive step following the DB precedent last year in Germany and can lead to enhanced competition in the European rail ticketing market, allowing independent ticket vendors more chance to compete with the in-house ticket vendor of market-dominant Renfe.

Renfe has committed to providing unrestricted access to its data for independent ticket vendors as well, which are essential for the proper functioning of the EU passenger rail sector.

• These independent platforms offer innovative digital solutions that prioritise customer needs and enable consumers to easily compare and book public transport, both nationally and cross-border.
• They also put tickets of different operators into combined journeys, offering a myriad of new transport options that benefit consumers by making trips easier, more affordable and more sustainable.
• In order to reach ambitious climate targets, it’s crucial to shift from individual and less sustainable modes of transport like cars to more sustainable options.

Notably missing from the commitments were guidelines around fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory remuneration for independent platforms. Their full potential is often stifled by unfair and anti-competitive practices, including both access to essential content and unreasonably low commission levels and marketing restrictions.

• Independent ticketing platforms offer the same service as the in-house ticket vendors of market dominant rail operators themselves, so why should they not be paid the same for their solutions?

Renfe’s revised commitments on look-to-book ratios, error rates, and unavailability rates constitute positive developments towards operational fairness and service reliability for independent platforms.

However, while acknowledging the positive steps taken, ALLRAIL states that further work is needed, particularly concerning the lack of clarity on commission rates. Reasonable commissions are essential for the economic sustainability of independent ticket vendors – without them, consumers stand to lose out yet again.

ALLRAIL Secretary General Nick Brooks says: “The commitments from Renfe, mirroring the Deutsche Bahn case, are a positive step, but not enough to provide transparent and impartial rail ticket retail for EU citizens. We call for the EU Commission to do more”.