42 Amendments of Kerstin WESTPHAL related to 2017/0237(COD)
Amendment 32 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Despite considerable progress made in protecting consumers in the Union, further improvements in protecting the rights of rail passengers are still to be made, especially regarding the access to information and compensation in case of delay.
Amendment 34 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Granting the same rights to rail passengers taking international and domestic journeys should raise the level of consumer protection in the Union, ensure a level playing-field for railway undertakings and guarantee a uniform level of rights for passengers, especially regarding their access to information and compensation in case of delay.
Amendment 35 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
Amendment 40 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
Amendment 41 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
Amendment 44 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Users’ rights to rail services include the receipt of information regarding the service both before and during the journey. Whenever possible, railway undertakings and ticket vendors should provide this information in advance and as soon as possible. That information should be provided in accessible formats for persons with disabilities or persons with reduced mobility and should be available publicly.
Amendment 49 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) In the context of the sale of tickets for the transport of passengers, Member States should take all necessary measures to prohibit discrimination on the basis of nationality or residence, regardless whether the passenger concerned is present, permanently or on a temporary basis, in another Member State. Those measures should cover all covert forms of discrimination which, by the application of other criteria, such as residence, physical or digital location, may have the same effect. In light of the development of online platforms selling passenger transport tickets, Member States should pay special attention to ensuring that no discrimination occurs during the process of accessing online interfaces or purchasing tickets. All prices, tickets and travel options should be available online on a customer friendly interface. Customers should have the possibility to compare all prices, tickets and travel options without any discrimination or restriction. However, transport schemes involving social tariffs should not be automatically precluded, provided that they are proportionate and independent of the nationality of the persons concerned.
Amendment 51 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The increasing popularity of cycling across the Union has implications for overall mobility and tourism. An increase in the use of both railways and cycling in the modal split reduces the environmental impact of transport. Therefore, railway undertakings should facilitate the combination of cycling and train journeys as much as possible, in particular by allowing the carriage of bicycles on board trainand providing adequate capacity for the carriage of bicycles on board all types of trains, including on long-distance services and cross-border journeys.
Amendment 55 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The increasing popularity of cycling across the Union has implications for overall mobility and tourism. An increase in the use of both railways and cycling in the modal split reduces the environmental impact of transport. Therefore, railway undertakings should facilitate the combination of cycling and train journeys as much as possible, in particular by allowing the safe carriage of bicycles on board trains.
Amendment 59 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Railway undertakings should facilitate the transfer of rail passengers from one operator to another by the provision of through-tickets. In this respect, wthenever possibley should also cooperate with ticket vendors providing combined journeys.
Amendment 63 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) In the light of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and in order to give persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility opportunities for rail travel comparable to those of other citizens, rules for non-discrimination and assistance before and during their journey should be established. Persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility, whether caused by disability, age or any other factor, have the same right as all other citizens to free movement and to non- discrimination. Inter alia, special attention should be given to the provision of information to persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility concerning the accessibility of rail services, access conditions of rolling stock and the facilities on board. In order to provide passengers with sensory impairment with the best information on delays, visual and audible systems should be used, as appropriate. Persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility should be enabled to buy tickets on board a train without extra charges. Staff should be adequately trained to respond to the needs of persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility, notably when providing assistance. To ensure equal travel conditions, such persons should be provided with assistance at stations and on board at all times when trains operate and not only at certain times of the day.
Amendment 68 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) It is desirable that this Regulation create a system of compensation for passengers in the case of delay which is linked to the liability of the railway undertaking, on the same basis as the international system provided by the COTIF and in particular CIV Uniform Rules thereto relating to passengers' rights. Purchased tickets should be fully refundable. In the event of a delay of a passenger service, railway undertakings should provide passengers with compensation based on a percentage up to 100% of the ticket price.
Amendment 69 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) Railway undertakings should be obliged to be insured, or to make equivalent arrangements, for their liability to rail passengers in the event of accident. Where Member States set a maximum amount for compensatory damages in the event of death or personal injury to passengers, that amount should be at least equivalent to the amount set out in the CIV Uniform Rules. Member States should have the possibility to increase the amount for compensatory damages in the event of death or personal injury to passengers any time.
Amendment 78 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) However, a railway undertaking should not be obliged to pay compensation if it can prove that the delay was caused by severe weather conditions or major natural disasters endangering the safe operation of the service. Any such event should have the character of an exceptional natural catastrophe, as distinct from normal seasonal weather conditions, such as autumnal storms or regularly occurring urban flooding caused by tides or snowmelt. Railway undertakings should prove that they could neither foresee nor prevent the delay even if all reasonable measures had been takenIn view of the decision of Court of Justice of the European Union in Case C 509/11 1a (ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG) and the need for legal certainty, protection of passengers, continued high levels of investment in railway rolling stock and infrastructure and good contingency planning, a railway undertaking should be obliged to pay compensation to a passenger for a delay or cancellation that is not the fault of that passenger, regardless of the cause of the delay or cancellation concerned. __________________ 1a1a Case C-509/11, ÖBB- Personenverkehr AG (EU: C2013:613).
Amendment 82 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24
Recital 24
Amendment 85 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) To maintain a high level of consumer protection in rail transport, Member States should be required to designate national enforcement bodies to monitor closely and enforce this Regulation at national level. Those bodies should be able to take a variety of enforcement measures. Passengers should be able to complain to those bodies about alleged infringements of the Regulation. To ensure the satisfactory handling of such complaints, the bodies should also cooperate with each other. , and to provide the option for passengers of binding alternative dispute resolution, in line with Directive 2013/11/EU1b.Passengers should be able to complain to those bodies about alleged infringements of the Regulation, and to use online dispute resolution established under Regulation 524/2013/EU1c where agreed. It should also be provided that complaints may be made by organisations representing groups of passengers. To ensure the satisfactory handling of such complaints, the bodies should also cooperate with each other and the Regulation should continue to be listed in the Annex to the revised Consumer Protection Cooperation Regulation 2017/2394/EU 1d. Enforcement bodies shall each year publish reports on their websites detailing the number and type of complaints that they have received, detailing the outcome of their enforcement actions. In addition, these reports shall be made available on the website of the European Union Agency for Railways. __________________ 1b1b Directive 2013/11/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013 on alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes and amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 and Directive 2009/22/EC (OJ L 165, 18.6.2013, p. 14). 1c1c Regulation 524/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013 on online dispute resolution for consumer disputes and amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 and Directive 2009/22/EC (OJ L 165, 18.6.2013, p.1). 1d1d Regulation 2017/2394/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2017 on cooperation between national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection laws and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 (OJ L 345, 27.12.2017, p. 1).
Amendment 88 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
This Regulation establishes rules applicable to rail transport to provide for effective protection of passengers and encourage rail travel as regards the following:
Amendment 91 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) passengers’ rights in the event ofand compensation in the event of disruption, such as cancellation or delay;
Amendment 95 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point f
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point f
(f) non-discrimination against , immediate, spontaneous and mandatory assistance by trained staff for , persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility ;
Amendment 98 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point i
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point i
(i) general rules on enforcement, including through the option for passengers of binding alternative dispute resolution.
Amendment 99 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
This Regulation shall apply to all domestic and, cross-border or international rail passenger journeys and services throughout the Union provided by one or more railway undertakings licensed in accordance with Directive 2012/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council29 operating, stopping, travelling, departing or arriving within the territory of the Union. __________________ 29 OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 32.
Amendment 100 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2
Article 2 – paragraph 2
Amendment 140 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Passengers shall be entitled to take bicycles on board the train, where appropriate for a reasonable fee. They shall keep their bicycles under supervision during the journey and ensure that no inconvenience or damage is caused to other passengers, mobility equipment, luggage or rail operations. The carriage of bicycles may be refused or restricted for safety or operational reasons, provided that railway undertakings, ticket vendors, tour operators and, where appropriate, station managers inform passengers of the conditions for such a refusal or restriction in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 454/2011, whether assembled or not, free of charge on board the train, all new or refurbished rolling stock shall include an appropriate designated space for the carriage of assembled bicycles.
Amendment 161 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 3
Article 9 – paragraph 3
3. The information referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be provided in the most appropriate format including by using up-to-date communication technologies . Particular attention shall be paid to ensuring that this information is accessible to persons with disabilities in accordance with the accessibility requirements laid down in Directive XXX and Regulation 454/2011 . Passengers shall have the right to claim for compensation if the railway undertakings and ticket vendors fail to provide the correct travel information.
Amendment 174 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. Railway undertakings, tour operators and ticket vendors shall offer tickets and, where available, through-tickets and reservations, through-tickets, reservations and combinations of tickets that provide the most optimal and cost-effective journey or combined journey, including cross- border, in an impartial and non- discriminatory manner. They shall make all possible efforts to offer through-tickets, including for journeys across borders andor involving night trains and journeys with more than one railway undertaking.
Amendment 178 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. Railway undertakings and ticket vendors shall offer tickets and, where available, through-tickets and reservations. They shall make all possible efforts to offer through-tickets, including for journeys across borders and with more than one railway undertaking.
Amendment 195 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 5
Article 10 – paragraph 5
5. Where there is no ticket office or accessible ticketing machine in the station of departure, persons with disabilities and persons wiTickets bought on board the train shall not cost more than the reduced mobility shall be permitted to buy tickets on board the train at no extra costlevant standard fare for the journey concerned with any applicable discounts.
Amendment 197 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 5
Article 10 – paragraph 5
5. Where there is no ticket office or accessible ticketing machine in the station of departure, persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobilityassengers shall be permitted to buy tickets on board the train at no extra cost.
Amendment 218 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) 25 50% of the ticket price for a delay of 6045 to 1189 minutes,;
Amendment 220 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) 50 100% of the ticket price for a delay of 1290 minutes or more.
Amendment 234 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 5
Article 17 – paragraph 5
5. The compensation of the ticket price shall be paid within one month after the submission of the request for compensation to the railway undertaking, tour operator or ticket vendor. The compensation may be paid in vouchers and/or other services if the terms are flexible (in particular regarding the validity period and destination). The compensation shall be paid in money at the request of the passenger.
Amendment 238 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 7
Article 17 – paragraph 7
7. The passenger shall not have any right to compensation if the isy are informed of a delay before he buysbuying a ticket, or if a delay due to continuation on a different service or re-routing remains below 6045 minutes.
Amendment 251 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 18 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. In the case of any delay as referred to in paragraph 1 of more than 6045 minutes, passengers shall also be offered free of charge:
Amendment 273 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1
Article 20 – paragraph 1
1. Railway undertakings and station managers shall, with the active involvement of representative organisations of persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility, establish, or shall have in place, non- discriminatory access rules for the transport of persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility including their personal assistants. The rules shall allow the passenger to be accompanied by an assistance dog service animal in accordance with any relevant national rules, and shall ensure that rail transport for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility is immediate and spontaneous wherever possible.
Amendment 280 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 2
Article 21 – paragraph 2
2. When a railway undertaking, ticket vendor or tour operator exercises the derogation provided for in Article 20(2), it shall upon request inform in writing the person with disabilities or person with reduced mobility concerned of its reasons for doing so within five working days of the refusal to make the reservation or to issue the ticket or the imposition of the condition of being accompanied. The railway undertaking, ticket vendor or tour operator shall make reasonable efforts to propose an alternative transport option to the person in question taking into account his or her accessibility needs.
Amendment 283 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1
Article 22 – paragraph 1
1. On departure from, transit through or arrival at, a staffed railway station of a person with disabilities or a person with reduced mobility, the station manager or the railway undertaking or both shall provide assistance free of charge in such a way that that person is able to board the departing service, or to disembark from the arriving service for which he or she purchased a ticket, without prejudice to the access rules referred to in Article 20(1). Any booking of assistance shall always be free of charge, irrespective of the method of communication used.
Amendment 316 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) involve organisations representing persons with disabilities and with reduced mobility in the design and delivery of disability-related training;
Amendment 325 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 3
Article 28 – paragraph 3
3. Details of the complaint handling procedure shall be accessible to persons with disabilities and with reduced mobility. This information shall be made freely available in writing upon request in the domestic language of the railway undertaking.
Amendment 333 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 32 – paragraph 1
Article 32 – paragraph 1
1. The national enforcement bodies shall closely monitor compliance with this Regulation and take the measures necessary to ensure that the rights of passengers are upheld. For this purpose, railway undertakings, station managers and infrastructure managers shall provide the bodies with relevant documents and information at their request without delay and in any event within one month. In carrying out their functions, the bodies shall take account of the information submitted to them by the body designated under Article 33 to handle complaints, if this is a different body. They may also decide on enforcement actions based on individual complaints transmitted by such a bodyMember States shall ensure that national enforcement and complaint handling bodies shall be given sufficient powers and resources for the adequate and effective enforcement of individual complaints from passengers under this Regulation.
Amendment 335 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 32 – paragraph 2
Article 32 – paragraph 2
2. The national enforcement bodies shall publish statistics on their activityeach year publish reports with statistics on their websites detailing the number and type of complaints that they have received, detailing the outcome of their enforcement actions, including onthe sanctions applied, every year, at the latest at the end of April of the following calendar yearthat they have applied. This shall be done for each year by no later than the first day of April of the succeeding year. In addition, these reports shall be made available on the website of the European Union Agency for Railways.
Amendment 337 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 32 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 32 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The national enforcement bodies, in collaboration with organisations representative of persons with disabilities and with reduced mobility, shall conduct regular audits of the assistance services provided in accordance with this Regulation and publish the results inaccessible formats.
Amendment 339 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 2
Article 33 – paragraph 2
2. Any passenger may complain to the national enforcement body, or any other body designated by a Member State for that purpose, about an alleged infringement of this Regulation. Complaints may also be made by organisations representing groups of passengers.