The European Commission (EC) has announced a package of guidelines and recommendations to help gradually restore transport services across the EU while protecting the health of transport workers and passengers.
The guidelines put forth a series of recommendations, such as the need to limit contact between passengers and transport workers, and passengers themselves, reducing, where feasible, the density of passengers by air, rail, road and waterways.
They also include indications on the use of personal protective equipment such as face masks and on adequate protocols in case passengers present coronavirus symptoms.
Furthermore, the guidelines make recommendations for each mode of transport and call for coordination among member states in light of re-establishment of gradual connections between them.
Adina Vălean, EC transport commissioner, said: “We aim to create safe conditions in every mode of transport, to the extent possible, both for people traveling and transport workers.
“As we re-establish connectivity, these guidelines will provide authorities and stakeholders a standard framework.
“Our priority is to restore mobility as soon as possible, but only with clear provisions for safety and health.”
The EC has also made a recommendation that to issue travel vouchers as an alternative to cash reimbursement for consumers.
Under EU rules, travellers have the right to choose between vouchers or cash reimbursement for cancelled transport tickets (plane, train, bus/coach, and ferries) or package travel.
According to the EC, the voluntary vouchers should be protected against insolvency of the issuer, with a minimum validity period of 12 months, and be refundable after at most one year, if not redeemed.
They should also provide passengers sufficient flexibility, should allow the passengers to travel on the same route under the same service conditions or the travellers to book a package travel contract with the same type of services or of equivalent quality.
They should also be transferable to another traveller.
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