Richard Parks This autumn, Deutsche Bahn (DB) will start using a new digital system to make booking international train trips across Europe easier. This change is part of the European Union’s wider plan to improve cross-border rail travel. The goal is to make travel more connected, simple, and user-friendly for passengers.
The main tool behind this change is the Open Sales and Distribution Model (OSDM), a data-sharing system supported by the EU. DB will link its system with Austria’s ÖBB and Switzerland’s SBB first. By the end of 2026, travelers will be able to book almost all major European rail journeys—including local trains—through DB’s website and the DB Navigator app.
Michael Peterson, DB’s head of long-distance transport, said, “Booking an international journey should be just as easy as a domestic one.” He sees this step as moving closer to that goal.
Rail expert Jon Worth welcomed the change but noted that OSDM does not create a single, unified ticket for international trips. Instead, it makes it easier to buy and combine tickets from different train companies. Currently, passengers often have to buy separate tickets from different national rail services, which can be confusing and costly. For example, someone traveling from Berlin to Barcelona usually has to buy tickets from several providers, with no single ticket covering the full trip.
Improving passenger rights is also a major reason behind the EU’s push for better booking systems. When journeys involve several rail companies, travelers who buy separate tickets often lose protections such as rebooking or refunds if a connection is missed due to delays. The European Commission plans to propose laws this year to guarantee these rights, no matter how many companies are involved. Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President, called this a top priority. She said in 2024, “People should be able to use open booking systems to purchase trans-European journeys… without losing their right to reimbursement or compensatory travel.”
However, Worth cautions that technical solutions like OSDM alone won’t fully solve the problem. “We need binding rules for data sharing, commissions for ticket resale, and guaranteed passenger rights,” he said.
Meanwhile, rail companies like DB are paying close attention as Brussels prepares new rules. DB has invested heavily in OSDM and worries that a competing standard could waste resources. Michael Peterson said, “That costs money and time.” Still, DB is optimistic. It recently launched a fast ICE train route between Berlin and Paris and reported a 22% rise in cross-border ticket sales in 2024, its best year so far.
With more passengers wanting to travel by train, better digital tools, and new EU regulations on the horizon, seamless rail travel across Europe may soon become a reality. For travelers concerned about climate change and those comfortable with technology, Europe’s rail network could finally match their expectations.