Very much this. In Germany the law regulating railway demands that all train companies work together in creating through-fares, but in practice as far as long d

Very much this. In Germany the law regulating railway demands that all train companies work together in creating through-fares, but in practice as far as long distance trains are concerned that obligation seems to have been forgotten and we're only saved by the fact that only a small minority of those trains are operated by TOCs other than DB.