Skip to main content
European Union flag
EU Tourism Platform

EU guidelines on charges for the use of railway infrastructure

Knowledge documents

09 May 2025

EU guidelines on charges for the use of railway infrastructure

Login / create an account to be able to react

An illustrative photo of a passenger train pulling into a train station.

The European Commission has issued guidelines under Directive 2012/34/EU to assist EU countries in setting track access charges, which impact the viability of rail transport services and ticket prices.

Publishing org

Publications Office of the European Union

Related Organisation(s)

European Commission

Topics
Geographical descriptors

Austria

Belgium

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Czechia

Denmark

Estonia

EU-27

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Netherlands

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Organisation Type

Company with 250 or more employees

EU Institutions

Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce

International Organisations

Local Authorities

National authorities

Regional Authorities

SMEs (a company with less than 250 employees)

  • Specific types of tourism

    • Adventure tourism

    • Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism

    • Cultural tourism

    • Ecotourism

    • Education tourism

    • Festival tourism

    • Gastronomy tourism

    • Health and medical tourism

    • MICE tourism

    • Mountain tourism

    • Religious tourism

    • Rural tourism

    • Sports tourism

    • Urban/city tourism

    • Wellness tourism

  • Transition Pathway Strategic Areas

    • Cross-border travelling

    • Sustainable mobility

  • Business activities

    • Rail Passenger transport

Share

On 7 May 2025, the European Commission adopted interpretative guidelines on the setting of charges for the use of railway infrastructure—commonly referred to as “track access charges”. These guidelines clarify the Commission’s interpretation of key elements within Directive 2012/34/EU, aiming to support national authorities and rail infrastructure managers in consistently applying the existing regulatory framework across the EU.

Track access charges represent a significant share of the total operational expenses for rail transport operators. They substantially influence the economic viability of rail transport services and the pricing of tickets, which in turn affects market entry, the provision of railway services, and the competitiveness of rail transport compared to other modes of transport.

To explore the guidelines in detail, please follow the attached link.

#Railway tourism #Mobility #Handbooks and guidelines 

Rating
No votes yet

Comments (0)

Related content

See also

-
Comment
0
  • Knowledge documents
  • 30 Aug 2024

Perspectives on responsible travel 2021

Booking.com’s 2021 "Sustainable Travel Report" reveals a surge in tourist commitment to sustainability post-pandemic, with a focus on eco-friendly practices and visibility of certified green...
Categories
Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism Cultural tourism Ecotourism +43 more
-
Comment
0
  • Knowledge documents
  • 08 Jul 2026

“Key updates and trends in 2024” Summary

At a glance Horizontal The topic explored the most significant policy, market, and regulatory developments shaping EU tourism in 2024, focusing on how the sector...
Categories
Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism Cultural tourism Ecotourism +64 more
-
Comment
0
  • Knowledge documents
  • 07 Jul 2026

"Addressing changing holiday patterns due to climate change" Summary

At a glance Green Transition The topic focused on how climate change is reshaping holiday patterns across Europe and ways of supporting adaptation through the...
Categories
Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism Cultural tourism Ecotourism +63 more