This autumn, Deutsche Bahn (DB) will introduce a new digital system to make international train bookings easier. This effort is part of the European Union’s push to remove barriers between national rail networks and create a smooth travel experience across Europe.
Michael Peterson, DB’s board member for long-distance travel, said passengers will soon be able to “book an international journey just as easily as a domestic one.” The plan aims to support seamless cross-border travel with unified digital standards backed by EU rules.
DB’s system uses the Open Sales and Distribution Model (OSDM), an EU-approved framework. From this autumn, railway companies will share ticket data in real time, helping customers book trips without confusion. By late 2026, DB plans to offer combined ticketing for most European trains and local lines through its website and DB Navigator app. The Austrian operator ÖBB and Swiss operator SBB will join first, with others to follow.
Rail expert Jon Worth explains this does not mean one single ticket for an entire trip. Instead, OSDM makes it easier to link multiple tickets, though some differences and challenges will remain.
Currently, travelers often book separate tickets from several operators for one international journey. For example, a trip from Berlin to Barcelona requires multiple bookings from different websites. This can be complicated and costly, with no guarantees if connections fail.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has highlighted this problem, calling for rules to protect passengers. She wants travelers to keep rights like rebooking and refunds on multi-leg journeys. “People should be able to purchase trans-European journeys without losing their right to reimbursement,” she said in 2024.
While OSDM improves ticket access, it does not enforce how tickets are sold or guarantee passenger rights. Worth said, “DB’s technical work is good, especially for Germany, but without EU laws on data sharing and passenger protection, full cooperation is still out of reach.”
EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas plans to propose laws this year for unified booking platforms and full passenger rights. DB worries that new rules could disrupt their OSDM-based system and delay progress.
Despite these concerns, DB is optimistic. It launched a direct high-speed route between Berlin and Paris and saw a 22% rise in international ticket sales in 2024, its strongest year yet.
With better tools, growing collaboration, and upcoming EU legislation, Europe’s rail network could soon offer travelers a smooth, climate-friendly alternative to flying. This effort supports a greener and more connected continent.