'Non-discrimination based on nationality regarding tariffs and other contract conditions;non-discriminatory treatment for
disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility. Specifically,
free-of-charge assistance both at designated bus terminals and on board
buses and coaches, as well as financial compensation for loss of or
damage to their mobility equipment;
adequate and accessible information
for all passengers before and during their journey, as well as general
information in bus terminals and on the internet about their rights;
reimbursement of the full ticket
price or rerouting in case of overbooking, cancellation or delay of more
than 2 hours from the estimated time of departure (only applicable for
journeys of more than 250 km distance);
compensation of 50% of the ticket
price in addition to the reimbursement of the full price in case of
overbooking, cancellation or a delay of more than 2 hours from the
estimated time of departure, when the bus and coach company fails to
offer the passenger the right to choose between reimbursement and
rerouting (only applicable for journeys of more than 250 km distance);
adequate assistance (snacks, meals,
refreshments, as well as, if necessary, accommodation) in case of
cancellation or delay of more than 90 minutes for journeys longer than 3
hours (only applicable for journeys of more than 250 km distance);
compensation for death, injury, loss or damage to luggage caused by road accidents;
a complaint handling mechanism established by the bus and coach companies and available to all passengers;
setting-up of independent bodies in
each EU Member State with the mandate to enforce the regulation and,
where appropriate, to impose penalties.'
As of today, EU Regulation No 181/2011 applies to bus and coach travellers across the EU. The Regulation is meant to complete an integrated area of passengers rights, providing passengers in Europe a high level of consumer protection independent of the means of travel. In line with existing rights for travelling by air, rail or boat, bus and coach travellers may now rely on the following passenger rights (as enumerated in the European Commission's press release):
