TRAVELLING:LONG-DISTANCE bus and coach passengers are set to enjoy rights similar to those enjoyed by air travellers under new measures to be introduced early next year.
The package includes compensation for delayed departures, rights to reimbursement, protections against discrimination and the provision of information for passengers.
The European Parliament and Council this week reached agreement on the proposals after a conciliation process and final approval will come from a plenary session of the Parliament and from the Council in February.
Although the package greatly improves the consumer rights of coach passengers, it contains some of the limitations which have proved so problematic in air transport. For example, the regulation requires carriers to provide up to two nights hotel accommodation to stranded passengers, for a maximum amount of €80 per night, but this will not apply in cases of severe weather conditions and major natural disasters.
The other bad news is that most of the measures, apart from the anti-discrimination provisions, will apply only to long-distance journeys (greater than 250km), thus ruling out most bus journeys within Ireland. Where departures are delayed by more than two hours or cancelled, passengers have the right to reimbursement or rerouting. Compensation of half the ticket price may also apply in such cases.
The package provides for free assistance for disabled passengers and “where necessary” free transport for accompanying people on coach journeys of any length. Discrimination on the basis of nationality is also outlawed. Where a journey of three hours or more is delayed by 90 minutes or cancelled, passengers will also have the right to snacks, meals and other refreshments.
EU commissioner for transport Siim Kallas said the new rights would drive up service quality and allow people to travel with greater peace of mind. “This deal also puts in place the last piece of the jigsaw. Now there is a safety net of passenger rights in place for all transport modes, to protect citizens wherever and however they travel.”
The regulation requires carriers to provide information about their rights as well as a complaint handling service. National enforcement bodies will have the power to impose penalties on offending coach companies.