A recent report by Transport & Environment (T&E) reveals that Europe’s train ticket booking system is outdated, making it challenging for travelers to opt for rail over air travel. The analysis focused on the 30 busiest international air routes within the EU and found that 20% of these routes did not allow passengers to purchase tickets covering the entire journey. Additionally, 27% of the routes only provided tickets from a single train operator. This situation is exacerbated by the fact that 86% of competitive routes do not sell tickets from alternative operators, leaving travelers unaware of potentially cheaper options. Georgia Whitaker, a rail campaigner at T&E, emphasized that the cumbersome booking system is a barrier to climate action, as many travelers are deterred by the complexity of purchasing train tickets. A YouGov poll commissioned by T&E indicated that 61% of long-distance rail travelers have avoided journeys due to these difficulties, and over 40% would travel more frequently by rail if booking were easier. The European Commission is set to address these issues by publishing a single ticketing package aimed at simplifying cross-border travel and enhancing consumer protections by May 13. This report builds on findings from a Greenpeace study that revealed trains were cheaper than planes on only 39% of cross-border routes.