If you’ve ever wanted to take the train but chose to fly instead because it was cheaper or more convenient, you’re in the right place!
The European Youth Card Association has joined Youth on Track, a coalition of youth, consumer and environmental organisations calling on the EU to address the issue of rail ticket prices that are often higher than flights and that of booking systems that make cross-border train travel too complicated.
Travelling by train in Europe is, on average, five times cleaner than flying. Yet for most young people, flying remains cheaper and easier. Research shows that 71% of 15–24-year-olds say high ticket prices are the main barrier to choosing rail, while 28% report difficulties in booking journeys that combine two or more rail operators.
The upcoming proposals on single ticketing, passenger rights, and VAT rules are the perfect opportunities for us to turn this into a reality.
This is what we are asking for concretely:
- Seamless online ticket booking across countries and platforms ➡️ no more looking for endless tickets in your email folders
- Transparent pricing ➡️ this will make sure you can see your youth discount in any country you’re travelling to
- Fairer taxation between air and rail ➡️ aviation benefits from different tax exemptions, making its ticket prices way cheaper than rail
- Stronger rail passenger rights ➡️ very useful when you miss your connection because of a delay
We already made sure policymakers heard our voice at the event Youth on Track: Towards Better European Rail, hosted at the European Parliament on 30 September where MEPs Lena Schilling (Greens/EFA), Martine Kemp (EPP), and Thomas Pellerin (S&D) also shared their support for the proposal.
About Youth on Track
Youth on Track is a coalition of Civil Society Organisations made of youth NGOs (EU&U, Erasmusbytrain, European Youth Card Association, Generation Climate Europe, JEF Europe, World Scouting), consumers’ groups (BEUC, European Passengers’ Federation) and environmental groups (Transport & Environment, Europe on Rail) aiming to leverage the quality of rail services in Europe to make it the most convenient way of travel across Europe, especially for young travellers. Together, the coalition represents millions of young people, rail passengers, and climate advocates across Europe.