The concept of sustainability in passenger transport is related to balancing the need for greater mobility and availability of means of transport with long-term needs as a sustainable form of transportation that will minimize financial costs and negative effects on the environment and society. Today, rail transport is recognized as one of the forms of transport with a high level of potential for additional development in the future, especially because it represents a cheap and efficient form of transportation. Due to the above-mentioned reasons, the goal of this paper is to investigate the attitudes of rail traffic users toward long-distance travel in times of crisis while also taking into consideration the general attitudes of rail traffic users toward long-distance travel by train. The first part of this paper will focus on the theoretical and historical development of the railway system within the EU, including the basics of the regulatory framework and statistical analysis of passenger and freight rail traffic. In the second part of the paper, statistical data about railway passenger traffic during the most significant crises of the 21st century will be analyzed: the financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Russia-Ukraine war. After the analysis carried out within the work, a strategy for further development will be proposed, which should be of help to responsible decision-makers related to continuous harmonization, typification, standardization, and unification of the railway system. In the last chapter, research was conducted using a survey, in which 199 respondents were taken who answered questions regarding long-distance train travel in times of crisis and in general. In addition to the presented results and possible suggestions for improvement, this point also deals with quality control management. In the last part of the work, the conclusion was presented.