In some countries, the purchase of a ticket on a ‘mainline’ or ‘high-speed’ train does not automatically imply a seat reservation.

If you wish to guarantee a seat, you will have to make a separate seat reservation, often at extra cost. So be sure to check your tickets when you buy them. If the seat reservation is already included (and maybe compulsory), the car and seat number will be mentioned.

On regional and tourist trains, there are generally no reserved seats, but beware of peak periods when you may not be guaranteed a seat.

Our advice:

Even if you have a reserved seat, make sure you take it right after the departure so that the train controler can check that the train is full when he first passes. In the event of disruption, the ticket inspector may have to authorise passengers on re-routing to use unoccupied seats. If your seat is occupied, do not hesitate to contact the train controler to resolve the situation.

Ihre Rechte:

Wenn Sie eine Fahrkarten kaufen, müssen Sie über folgendes informiert werden:

• Zugänglichkeit des Bahnhofs und der Züge

• Ausstattung des Zuges

• Transportbedingungen für Ihre Mobilitätshilfen (Rollstuhl, Krücken)

• Ihre Rechte bei Zugverspätung und Zugausfall

Your rights:

If you are subject to a fine on board, you must pay it immediately. If you fail to do so, depending on the country or railway undertaking, the fine may be increased.

Our advice:

If you wish to contest the fine:

• be aware of  the usually fairly short deadlines. This is normally mentioned on the receipt that was given to you or, if not, on the website of the railway undertaking which issued the ticket.
• Contact the railway undertaking responsible for the ticket inspector (which is not always the one who sold the tickets or owns the train, especially on cross-border journeys).
• Use the online form on the railway undertaking’s website after checking that it is suitable for this type of request.

Your rights:

If you have to pay an increased transport fee on board of the train, you must pay it immediately. Otherwise, the amount may be increased again.

Our advice:

If you would like to contest the increased transport fee:

• Pay attention to the short deadlines for lodging an objection. The deadlines are usually stated on the receipt you received or on the railway company’s website.

• Gather evidence to defend yourself.

• Contact the railway company for which the inspector who requested the increased transport fee works. Please note: This ist not always the railway company that sold the ticket to you or the owner of the train – especially on international journeys.

• Once you have checked that it is suitable for this kind of problem, use the railway company’s online form.

Your rights:

Railway undertakings are encouraged to accept bicycles on their trains, but are given several years to increase their capacity.

Please note: on some trains without prior reservation, the number of bikes allowed on board may be limited for safety and space reasons.

If you are refused boarding because of your bicycle, you are entitled to a refund or re-routing on another train that allows it.

Good to know: the bicycle remains under your sole responsibility and therefore the railway undertaking is not liable for any theft or damage (unless it is the result of an accident).

Our advice:

If you are travelling with your bicycle, ask each railway undertaking about :

• the conditions of transport,
• the price to pay,
• whether a reservation is necessary.

Your rights:

The EU regulation (EU 2021/782), which came into force on 7th June 2023, basically ensures that rail passengers have the right to take their bicycles in long distance and local trains with them. However, the railway companies will have several years to adapt their capacities.

Good to know:

On some trains which do not provide reservations for bicycles the number of bycicles may be limited due to safety or space.

If you have booked a ticket for your bycicle and you are not allowed to enter the train your rights are as follows:

• Refund of the ticket price while giving up the journey.

• Continuing the journey with a changed route

• Compensation

• Assistance (e.g. food and drinks). However, this only applies if it is forseeable that you will arrive at the destination station with a delay of 60 minutes or more due to the transport refusal of the bike.

Good to know:
Like any other piece of luggage, you must supervise the bicycle yourself. The railway company is not resposable for theft or damage. The railway company can be hold resposible if the bycle was damaged due to an accident caused by the railway company.

Our advice:

If you want to take the bycicle with you, please ask each railway company which you will use about:

•  the terms and conditions of transport

• the transport costs

• whether you have to book a space for the bycicle

Your rights

European regulations do not specifically govern the carriage of pets, with the exception of guide and assistance dogs.

Our advice

Prior to leave, check the conditions for transporting pets for each railway company and type of train you will be using.

For dogs, the rules will vary from carrier to carrier and according to the size of the dog. Dogs often require their own ticket at a special rate. Please note that you may need a separate ticket for each train journey.

Cats and other pets (rabbits, ferrets, etc.) generally have to travel in a crate. Ask the carrier if you need to buy a ticket for your pet.

Your rights:

European regulations do not specifically govern the carriage of pets, with the exception of guide dogs and assistance dogs.

Our advice:

Prior to leave, check the conditions for transporting pets for each railway company and type of train you will be using.

For dogs, the rules will vary from carrier to carrier and according to the size of the dog. Dogs often require their own ticket at a special price. Please note that you may need a separate ticket for each journey.

Cats and other pets (rabbits, ferrets, etc.) generally have to travel in a transport box. Ask the carrier if you need to buy a ticket for your pet.

Our advice:

• If you buy your tickets for a foreign railway, find out before departure about the conditions for using the tickets (check-in at a station counter, compulsory stamping, etc.) and the documents to be presented in the event of a check (discount card, proof of identity, payment card used for the booking, etc.). The documents required may differ from one railway undertaking to another. If you do not present the required documents, you may be fined and charged the appropriate fare if you do not have proof of discount for example.
• Check before departure whether all tickets you booked online are electronic tickets or whether you will need to collect paper versions at the station.
• If you are travelling across the borders, make sure you take your valid passport or identity card with you. If there are no systematic checks on departure, customs or the police may carry out unannounced checks during the journey.
• French minors travelling without (one of) their parents are also required to travel with a valid identity document and an authorisation to leave the country. If your children have another nationality, check the travel conditions as well.

Train tickets can be bought at stations and on the internet. It is also possible to buy your ticket on the train, but often at a higher price.

If you are travelling to several EU countries, you can buy your tickets from one or more carriers, depending on the country you are visiting.

Your rights:

If your travel involves more than one train journey, depending on the railway undertaking(s) and how you bought your tickets, your rights in the event of a train cancellation or delay may be different (see the specific questions on train cancellation or delay).

If your trains are on time but you still miss your connection, the railway undertaking(s) cannot be held responsible. They are therefore under no obligation to refund you for the missed train or re-route you on another train free of charge.

Our advice:

• If you are buying online, check the website where you want to book: is it the transport company’s website? Or a booking platform? Or a travel agency? Buying through an intermediary may involve additional costs.
• When buying your tickets, whether on the railway undertaking’s website or on a booking platform, make sure that there are sufficient connection times, especially if you have to change stations in a major city or if you are travelling with a lot of luggage or young children. Travel times can vary greatly between the modes of transport used for the connection (subway, taxi, etc). It is usually calculated at the fastest (subway in general) by the railway undertakings.

Your rights:

Regardless of your nationality or place of residence, you should be able to buy tickets at the fares charged by railway undertakings for customers from their country (except social welfare tariffs).

Ticket prices might be higher when buying directly on the train.

Our advice:

• Don’t hesitate to compare prices on different sites, especially if you are travelling beyond borders.
• If you are buying online, check the website where you want to book: is it the transport company’s website? Or a booking platform? Or a travel agency? Buying through an intermediary may involve additional costs

Your rights:

If you have booked a trip with an airline that consists of a train journey and then a plane journey, your rights in case of cancellation or delay depend on the rules of two different European regulations: Regulation on air passenger rights and Regulation on rail passenger rights.
For more information on your rights as an air passenger, see our website.

Our advice:

• Look up the check-in requirements for each mode of transport.
• If your travel starts with a train journey, go to the airline representation office, which is usually located in the departure station. If you do not check in, you risk being considered a “no show” and the rest of your journey will be automatically cancelled, with no possibility of claiming a refund or a free re-routing.

Your rights:

A railway undertaking may refuse access to an animal on its network, unless it is an assistance dog for a person with reduced mobility or disabilities.

Our advice:

Ask each railway undertaking about the rules for travelling by train with an animal: breeds allowed, ticket prices, transport conditions (on a lead, in a bag, etc.).

Your rights:

Depending on the country, not all rules governing delay will apply to this type of train.
However, information to passengers and assistance to people with reduced mobility or disabilities are still mandatory.

Our advice:

If you have any questions on this subject in a cross-border context, do not hesitate to contact the ECC of your residence country. 

Your rights:

Depending on the country, not all rules governing delay will apply to this type of train.

Our advice:

If you have any questions on this subject in a cross-border context, do not hesitate to contact the ECC of your residence country. 

Your rights:

The rights under the EU regulation 2021/782 (refund or compensation in the event of cancellation) do not necessarily apply to regional, city or superurban trains.
However, information to passengers and assistance to people with reduced mobility or disabilities are still mandatory.

Our advice:

If you have any questions on this subject in a cross-border context, do not hesitate to contact the ECC of your residence country.

Your rights:

The rights under the EU regulation 2021/782 (refund or compensation in the event of cancellation) do not necessarily apply to trains operated for historical or touristic use.

Our advice:

If you have any questions on this subject in a cross-border context, do not hesitate to contact the ECC of your residence country.

Please note:

Each railway undertaking sets its own rules regarding the dimensions and number of pieces of luggage or type of goods allowed on board, or supplementary fees to be paid.

Our advice:

• Check this when you make your booking and for each company involved in your journey, as the rules may differ from one to another.
• Beware of special items: musical instruments, surfboards, bicycles, etc., which may be prohibited depending on the train.

Your rights:

The luggage you take on the train remains under your sole responsibility throughout the journey and at the station. There is no compensation due by the railway undertaking in the event of theft, for example. The company is only liable if your luggage is checked in (transported via a delivery service they work with  for example) or if it is damaged in an accident.

Our advice:

• Before departure, carefully label your suitcases and hand luggage: In France for example, any suitcase that is not identifiable may be destroyed without a right for compensation. Also remember to take a photo of the contents of your suitcase, which will facilitate identification if it is lost or forgotten on the train.
• Avoid valuables in your luggage, as it might be placed out of your sight.
• Keep an eye on your luggage during stops.
• If you are travelling cross-border, ask the customs authorities about the rights and obligations of travellers within the EU, particularly with regard to the quantities allowed for the transport of certain products (cigarettes, alcohol, etc.).
• If you have forgotten an object on the train, contact the lost and found service at the terminal station.

In case of theft:

• File a complaint with the police.
• Remember to contact your bank card insurance if it covers theft or your travel insurance if you have one.

Your rights:

When you purchase your tickets, you must be informed, in an adapted and accessible format of:

• how to access the station and the trains,
• the equipment on board the train,
• the conditions for transporting your mobility equipment (wheelchair, crutches, etc.),
• your rights in case of cancellation or delay.

Your rights:

• You are entitled to free assistance at the station and on the train to get on and off and to make a connection.
• Neither the railway undertaking nor the station manager can refuse you boarding because of your disability or reduced mobility, except for safety reasons. Should this be the case, they must do their utmost to offer you an alternative transport solution taking into account your accessibility needs.

Our advice:

• To benefit from this assistance at the station, inform the station’s assistance service and the railway undertaking’s assistance service of your needs at least 24 hours before your departure. Please note: in some countries this period may be extended to 36 hours.
• Respect the time of arrival at the station which was communicated to you.
• If you have to travel with different train companies, check with each one.

Your rights:

If the railway undertaking requires the presence of an accompanying person for the duration of the journey, that person must travel free of charge and, if possible, be able to sit next to the person with reduced mobility or disability.

Your rights:

In the event of a delay or cancellation of a train, the railway undertaking must pay particular attention to persons with reduced mobility or disabilities.

You must :

• be informed of the incident,
• be re-routed under comparable conditions,
• receive appropriate assistance, particularly if accommodation is required.

Your rights:

Your assistance dogs must be accepted on board any train free of charge.

If the assistance dog is injured through the fault of the railway undertaking, compensation is due.

Your rights:

When you purchase your tickets, you must be informed, in an adapted and accessible format of the conditions for transporting your mobility equipment (wheelchair, crutches, etc.).

If your mobility equipment or assistive devices are damaged or lost through the fault of the railway undertaking, compensation is due.

Your rights at departure and during the journey :

If the train is announced to be more than 60 minutes late at departure, you are entitled to

• meals and drinks in reasonable quantities, taking into account the actual delay,
• accommodation if continuation of the journey is not possible on the same day,
• a means of informing your relatives if the train delay prevents continuation of the journey on the same day,
• transport by other means (e.g. taxi, bus) to the nearest station if the train is permanently stopped in the middle of the track.

Please note! Accommodation may be limited to 3 nights if the train delay is due to extraordinary circumstances (bad weather, sabotage, etc.), through the fault of the passenger or a third party (person on the tracks), with the exception of other transport or rail operating companies.

Our advice:

Ask the railway undertaking for assistance and at the station before taking the initiative to book accommodation yourself.

Your rights on arrival:

If you arrive at your destination with a delay :

• between 60 and 119 minutes compared to the originally scheduled time, you are entitled to compensation of 25% of the ticket price;
• of 120 minutes or more, you are entitled to compensation of 50% of the ticket price.

Good to know: Some railway undertakings or countries may provide compensation from 30 minutes of delay onwards. Ask for more information.

Please note:

• You cannot claim a full refund once you have boarded the train, even if it arrives late (except for commercial provisions specific to each railway undertaking).
• Compensation is not due if the railway undertaking can prove extraordinary circumstances or if the delay in arrival is the fault of the passenger or a third party (people on the tracks, sabotage, etc.).
• You cannot claim automatic reimbursement for services lost at your destination as a result of the delay (accommodation, other transport tickets, etc.). However, this type of loss can be claimed in court as damages if it can be justified and if the delay is not due to extraordinary circumstances.

Our advice:

Find out about your carrier’s compensation rates. They may be higher (compensation for delays of 30 minutes or more, higher percentage of compensation, etc.).

Your rights:

If you missed one of the connections because of a previous train delay, you can request :

• to be re-routed on another train as soon as possible at no extra cost ;
• compensation of 25% of the ticket price if you arrive at your destination less than 2 hours late or 50% of the ticket price for a delay of 2 hours or more, unless the train delay is due to exceptional circumstances (extreme weather conditions, a person on the tracks, etc.) ;
• to be reimbursed if you cancel your journey. The refund must be made within 30 days of your request.

Your rights:

If you miss a connection due to the delay of your previous train and no free alternative is offered to you by the carrier, you are entitled to compensation. It is calculated on the basis of the delay of the train preceding your connection and not on the whole journey (25% of the ticket price if you arrive less than 2 hours late or 50% for a delay of 2 hours or more).

Please note:

If, at the time of purchase, the seller did not inform you that the journey is operated by different carriers and that they are not contractually bound, you may demand reimbursement of the missed train(s) and a compensation of 75% of the total ticket price.

Your rights:

Your tickets, even if they were operated by the same railway undertaking, are not contractually linked. So, if you miss a connection because of a previous train delay, you can request to be re-routed on another train or to be reimbursed of the first train, and a compensation of 25% or 50 % of the ticket price depending on how late you were with this first train.

But you will not have a right to a refund of the missed train journey or compensation.

Our advice:

• Find out the conditions of your tickets for each journey and each carrier. They may allow for a free change or a refund of the missed train with or without penalty.
• If you have travel or cancellation insurance, check whether this is covered.

Your right to refund:

If you do not travel, you are entitled to a refund of your ticket within 30 days of your request.
If the cancellation occurs during the journey, with a connection, you are also entitled to a free return to your place of departure from there.
Please note: If your tickets have been refunded, you are not entitled to compensation.

Your right to assistance:

• meals and drinks in reasonable quantities, taking into account the actual delay,
• accommodation if re-routing is not possible on the same day,
• a means of informing your relatives if the train delay prevents continuation of your journey on the same day.

You are entitled to compensation and assistance.

Your right to compensation:

• 25% of the ticket price, if you arrive between 60 and 119 minutes late in relation to the originally scheduled time ;
• 50% for a delay of 120 minutes or more on arrival.

Good to know: some railway undertakings or countries may provide compensation from 30 minutes of delay onwards. Ask for more information.

Please note:

• Compensation is not due if the railway undertaking can prove extraordinary circumstances or if the delay in arrival is the fault of the passenger or a third party (people on the tracks, sabotage, etc.).
• You cannot claim a full refund once you have been re-routed free of charge by the railway undertaking.

Your right to assistance on departure:

If the train is cancelled and you are re-routed only after 1 hour or more,you are entitled to

• meals and drinks in reasonable quantities, taking into account the actual delay,
• accommodation if re-routing is not possible on the same day,
• a means of informing your relatives if the train delay prevents continuation of your journey on the same day,

Please note: Accommodation may be limited to 3 nights if the train delay is due to extraordinary circumstances (bad weather, damage caused by a third party, etc.), the fault of the passenger or the behaviour of a third party (with the exception of other transport companies or railway undertakings).

Our advice:

Ask the railway undertaking for assistance and at the station before taking the initiative to book accommodation yourself.

Our advice:

• If you want to buy your tickets for a foreign railway: Please inform yourself prior to departure about the conditions for using the tickets (check-in at the station counter, compulsory stamping, etc) and which documents you have to  present during a control (discount card, identity card or passport, cash card used for paying the tickets, etc). The documents required may differ from one railway company to another. If you are not able to show the required documents, you may be fined. E. g. if you cannot proof your right to obtain a discount, you have to pay the full ticket price.

• Prior to departure: Do not forget to check whether all tickets are electronic ones or whether you have to collect them at the station.

• If you are leaving Germany, make sure that you have a valid identity card or a valid biometric passport. Even if there are no systematic checks while departing, customs officers or the police may carry out unannounced checks during the journey.

• If minors are travelling alone, they also need a valid identification document (identity card, child passport or biometric passport). In addition, some countries require a travel authorisation if the child is travelling with an organisation, with only one parent or with someone different than the legal guardian. If your child has a different nationality please check the travel regulations.

You can buy the tickets at the railway station or online. Some train companies also offer the option to buy the tickets on the train. However, there is often a surcharge to be paid. Please note: The Deutsche Bahn AG does not sell tickets on the train.

If you are travelling through several EU countries, you can buy the tickets from one or more railway companies.

Your rights:

If your journey consists of several sections, your rights if the train is cancelled or delayed depend on the fact whether you have a one ticket (so called through-ticket) or several separate tickets for the whole journey. It also depends on the fact whether you bought the ticket directly from a railway company or from a ticket seller (e. g. a booking website). (For more information see categgory “train cancellation” or “train delay” in this tool).

Attention:

If your train is on time and you miss your connection, you cannot hold the railway company responsible. The railway companies are not obliged to reimburse you for the ticket price of the missed train or to rebook you on another train free of charge.

Attention:

The legal right of withdrawal which applies to online sales does not apply to the purchase of tickets which you bought on the internet. Please check the cancellation conditions prior to booking.

Our advice:

• If you buy your ticket online, pay attention on the operator of the website. Does the website belong to the railway company or to an intermediary, e. g. a booking portal or a travel agent? If you book at an intermediary, they may charge service fees.

• When you buy your tickets, make sure that you have enough time to reach the train connections. Especially if you have to change trains in a big city or if you are travelling with lots of luggage or with little children.

Your rights:

Regardless of your nationality and regardless of your place of residence, you should be able to buy tickets at the same price as the railway companies usually charge customers coming from their own country. (Social tariffs are excluded.)

Our advice:

Compare prices on different websites. Especially, if you want to travel abroad. If you book at an intermediary (e. g. booking portals), they may charge service fees for their activity.

Your rights:

If you have booked a trip from an airline company consisting of a train journey followed by a flight, your rights if the train is cancelled or delayed depend on two EU regulations: Regulation 261/2004 (air passenger rights) and Regulation 2021/782 (rail passenger rights). For further information please feel free to have a closer look on our website.

Our advice:

• Please check the terms and conditions of the airline and of the railway company. The conditions will vary depending on the service you choose. In some cases, train travel to the airport is an additional service offered by the airline (e.g. Rail & Fly). In other cases, you will receive only a single ticket covering both the train journey and the flight. In this case, only one check-in is required (e.g. Lufthansa Express Rail). Luggage is also checked in at the railway station.

• In other cases, you need to go to the airline’s counter at the railway station to check in. Failure to do so may be considered as a “no show”. The remaining sections of your journey will be cancelled automatically. You will neither get a refund of the ticket price  nor a free onward travel.

Your rights:

A railway company may refuse the carriage of a pet unless it is an assistance dog for a person with reduced mobility or disabilities.

Our advice:

Please check with each railway company whether you are allowed to travel with your pet and what the rules are: breeds allowed, ticket prices, transport conditions (on a lead, in a kennel, etc).

Your rights:

The rights under the European Rail Passengers Rights Regulation (compensation or reimbursement in case of a delay) do not necessarily apply to regional, urban, suburban trains.

Ask the railway company in your destination country, which regulations do apply.

Our advice:

If you want to take a regional, urban or suburban train in another EU country, please feel free to contact the European Consumer Centre Germany in order to get more information about your rights.

Your rights:

The rights under the European Rail Passengers Rights Regulation (compensation or reimbursement in case of a delay) do not apply to historical or tourist trains.

Our advice:

If you want to take an historical or tourist train in another EU country, please feel free to contact the European Consumer Centre Germany in order to get more information about your rights.

Your rights at the beginning of the journey or during your trip:

If the train leaves with a delay of 60 minutes, you have the following rights:

• Meals and refreshments, in reasonable relation to the waiting time, if they are available on the train or in the station, or can reasonably be supplied.

• Hotel accomodation and transport between the railway station and place of accomodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary, where and when it is physically possible.

• Onward journey with another means of transport (e.g. coach, taxi) to the next station, if the train stops due to a defect.

Attention:

If a hotel accomodation is necessary, the railway company can limit the duration of accomodation to a maximum of 3 nights due to the following reasons: Extraordinary circumstances (extreme weather conditions), fault of the passenger, behaviour of a third party (sabotage, persons on the track).

Our advice:

Ask the railway company for help to find a hotel accomodation prior to booking the hotel yourself.

In case of a foreseeable delay of at least 60 minutes: If you do not want to start the journey or if you want to cancel the whole trip, you are entitled to a refund of the ticket price and of a return transport to the starting station free of charge. The reimbursement must be credited on your account within 30 days after having submitted your claim.

If a delay of at least 60 minutes is forseeable and you want to make the journey, you can request a rebooking on another train free of charge. Some railway companies cancel the train commitment. You can choose a new connection yourself under comparable transport conditions. Some railway companies require a seat reservation for the alternative connection, e. g. for the TGV in France. The railway company is obliged to provide you with the seat reservation free of charge.

If the railway company does not offer an alternative connection within 100 minutes, you can book the alternative connection yourself and charge the costs to the railway company. You can also buy a ticket from another railway company or from a bus company. Please note: The cost of a flight is not refundable.

Your rights upon arrival: 

You can claim for compensation if you have already started your journey and if you arrive late at the destination station:

• 25 % of the ticket price for a delay of 60 to 119 minutes

• 50 % of the ticket price for a delay of 120 minutes or more.

Good to know:

Some railway companies already offer compensation for delays of 30 minutes or more. Therefore, check the transport conditions.

Please note:

• If you have started your journey and arrive late at your destination station, you cannot require a full refund of the ticket price.

• The railway company is not obliged to pay any compensation if the delay is due to the following reasons: extraordinary circumstances (extreme weather conditions), fault on the part of the passenger, behaviour of a third party (sabotage, persons on the track, etc)

• There is no entitlement to reimbursement of consequential costs incurred as a result of the delay at your destination (rental car, overnight accomodation)

Your rights at the beginning of the journey or during your trip:

If the train leaves with a delay of 60 minutes, you have the following rights:

• Meals and refreshments, in reasonable relation to the waiting time, if they are available on the train or in the station, or can reasonably be supplied.

• Hotel accomodation and transport between the railway station and place of accomodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary, where and when it is physically possible.

• Onward journey with another means of transport (e.g. coach, taxi) to the next station, if the train stops due to a defect.

Attention:

If a hotel accomodation is necessary, the railway company can limit the duration of accomodation to a maximum of 3 nights due to the following reasons: Extraordinary circumstances (extreme weather conditions), fault of the passenger, behaviour of a third party (sabotage, persons on the track).

Our advice:

Ask the railway company for help to find a hotel accomodation prior to booking the hotel yourself.

In case of a foreseeable delay of at least 60 minutes: If you do not want to start the journey or if you want to cancel the whole trip, you are entitled to a refund of the ticket price and of a return transport to the starting station free of charge. The reimbursement must be credited on your account within 30 days after having submitted your claim.

If a delay of at least 60 minutes is forseeable and you want to make the journey, you can request a rebooking on another train free of charge. Some railway companies cancel the train commitment. You can choose a new connection yourself under comparable transport conditions. Some railway companies require a seat reservation for the alternative connection, e. g. for the TGV in France. The railway company is obliged to provide you with the seat reservation free of charge.

If the railway company does not offer an alternative connection within 100 minutes, you can book the alternative connection yourself and charge the costs to the railway company. You can also buy a ticket from another railway company or from a bus company. Please note: The cost of a flight is not refundable.

Your rights upon arrival: 

You can claim for compensation if you have already started your journey and if you arrive late at the destination station:

• 25 % of the ticket price for a delay of 60 to 119 minutes

• 50 % of the ticket price for a delay of 120 minutes or more.

Good to know:

Find out about the level of compensation. For example, some railway companies pay compensation for delays of 30 minutes or more. Other railway companies may pay higher amounts than those set out in the European Rail Passenger Rights Regulation. Check the transport conditions.

Please note:

• If you have started your journey and arrive late at your destination station, you cannot require a full refund of the ticket price.

• The railway company is not obliged to pay any compensation if the delay is due to the following reasons: extraordinary circumstances (extreme weather conditions), fault on the part of the passenger, behaviour of a third party (sabotage, persons on the track, etc)

• There is no entitlement to reimbursement of consequential costs incurred as a result of the delay at your destination (rental car, overnight accomodation)

Your rights:

You can request the following, if you miss your connection due to the delay of the previous train:

• If a delay of at least 60 minutes is forseeable and you want to make the journey, you can request a rebooking on another train free of charge. Some railway companies cancel the train commitment. You can choose a new connection yourself under comparable transport conditions. Some railway companies require a seat reservation for the alternative connection, e. g. for the TGV in France. The railway company is obliged to provide you with the seat reservation free of charge.

• If the railway company does not offer an alternative connection within 100 minutes, you can book the alternative connection yourself and charge the costs to the railway company. You can also buy a ticket from another railway company or from a bus company. Please note: The cost of a flight is not refundable

• A compensation of 25 % of the ticket price, if you arrive at your destination station 60 to 119 minutes late, and 50  % of the ticket price, if you arrive with a delay of 120 minutes or more.

Please note:
The railway company is not obliged to pay compensation if the delay is due to extraordinary circumstances (extreme weather conditions) or due to the fault of the passenger or due to the behaviour of a third party (persons on the track, sabotage).

• You are not entitled to reimbursement of any additional expenses incurred at your destination as a result of missing your connection (e.g. rental car, hotel accomodation).

• Reimbursement of the ticket price and return transport to the starting station in the event of a foreseeable delay of 60 minutes if you had to interrupt your journey. The refund must be paid within 30 days.

Your rights:

If you miss your connection due to the delay of the previous train and if the railway company does not offer an alternative connection free of charge, you have the following rights against the ticket seller or against the tour operator:

• Reimbursement of the full ticket price 

and additionally

• a compensation of 75 % of the ticket price. The refund must be credited to your account within 30 days.

Attention:

If the ticket seller or the tour operator informs you when you buy the ticket that the different sections are operated by different railway companies and that the sections are not contractually linked, you are not entitled to a refund of the fare for the whole journey.

You can only claim compensation for the delayed train. That means: 25% of the ticket price if you arrive at your destination station with a delay between 60 and 119 minutes, or 50% of the ticket price if you arrive at your destination station with a delay of 120 minutes or more

Your rights:

If you have bought your tickets separately and the different sections are operated by the same train company, they cannot be considered to be through-tickets. Therefore, if you miss your connection due to a delay, you will neither be entitled to a refund for the missed connection nor to a compensation for the missed connection. You can only claim compensation for the delayed train.

Our advice:

If possible, book one ticket for the whole journey (through-ticket). If this is not possible, check with the railway company the ticket conditions for each section. Railway companies may offer free rebooking or a refund in case of a cancelled train. If you have a travel insurance, check whether such cases are covered.

Your rights:

The rights under the European Rail Passenger Rights regulation do not necessarily apply to regional, urban or suburban trains.

Ask the railway company in your destination country which regulations do apply.

Railway companies are still obliged to provide information to people with reduced mobility or disabilities.

Our advice:

If you want to take a regional, urban or suburban train in another EU country, please feel free to contact the European Consumer Centre Germany in order to get more information about your rights.

Your rights:

The rights under the European Rail Passengers Rights Regulation (e.g. rebooking on another train, transport to the starting station in case of a cancelled train) do not apply to historical or tourist trains.

Our advice:

If you want to take a historical or a tourist train in another EU country, please feel free to contact the European Consumer Centre Germany in order to get more information about your rights.

You are entitled to a refund of your ticket and to assistance, if your train is cancelled and you have to cancel the journey as a result.

Refund:

The ticket price must be refunded within 30 days after your request.

If the train is cancelled during the journey, you are entitled to a free return transport to the starting station.

Good to know: 

You cannot claim for an additional compensation, if you have already received a refund of the ticket price.

Assistance:

• Meals and refreshments, in reasonable relation to the waiting time, if they are available on the train or in the station, or can reasonably be supplied.

• Hotel accomodation and transport between the railway station and place of accomodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary, where and when it is physically possible. If a hotel accomodation is necessary, the railway company can limit the duration of accomodation to a maximum of 3 nights due to the following reasons: Extraordinary circumstances (extreme weather conditions), fault of the passenger, behaviour of a third party (sabotage, persons on the track).

Our advice:

• Ask the railway company to help you to find a hotel accomodation prior to booking the hotel yourself.

• Even if you are entitled to assistance, take enough drinks with you. This is especially important if you are travelling with children.

You are entiteld to compensation and assistance.

Compensation:

The amount of the compensation is:

• 25 % of the ticket price, if you arrive at the destination station with a delay of 60 to 119 minutes.

• 50 % of the ticket price, if you arrive at the destination station with a delay of 120 minutes or more.

Good to know:

Some railway companies offer compensation for delays as short as 30 minutes. Inform yourself.

Attention:

The railway company is not obliged to pay any compensation if the delay is due to the following reasons: extraordinary circumstances (extreme weather conditions), fault on the part of the passenger, behaviour of a third party (sabotage, persons on the track, etc)

If you have been rebooked free of charge by the railway company, you cannot claim reimbursement of the ticket price.

There is no entitlement to reimbursement of consequential costs incurred as a result of the delay at your destination (rental car, overnight accomodation)

Assistance:

If the train is cancelled and if you have not been rebooked within one hour, these are your rights:

• Meals and refreshments, in reasonable relation to the waiting time, if they are available on the train or in the station, or can reasonably be supplied.

• Hotel accomodation and transport between the railway station and place of accomodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary, where and when it is physically possible. If a hotel accomodation is necessary, the railway company can limit the duration of accomodation to a maximum of 3 nights due to the following reasons: Extraordinary circumstances (extreme weather conditions), fault of the passenger, behaviour of a third party (sabotage, persons on the track).

Our advice:

Ask the railway company or the station manager for help to find a hotel accomodation prior to booking the hotel yourself.

Your rights:

Each railway company has its own regulations regarding the luggage: e.g. number of suitcases or bags, goods that are or are not allowed on the train, luggage checks before boarding the train.

Our advice: 

• Inform yourself in advance which regulations apply to your luggage.

• In particular, if you want to take special luggage (e.g. musical instruments, bicycles, etc) with you on the train. You may have to pay a surcharge. Sometimes, depending on the type of luggage, it may not be  allowed to take it with you.

Your rights:

You are responsible  for your own luggage if you are on board of the train or staying in a train station. Therefore, you cannot claim compensation from the railway company, if the luggage is damaged or stolen. The railway company can only be hold responsible for the luggage which was shipped.

Our advice:

• Attach a luggage tag to your suitcase and hand luggage. Write your name, your address and your phone number in a hidden address field that cannot be read from the outside. Depending on the country, a suitcase or a piece of hand luggage which cannot be identified may be destroyed.

• Take a photograph of the suitcase itself and its content. This may help to identify your suitcase, if it was lost or forgotten on the train.

• Avoid valuables (laptop, money, jewellery) in the suitcase if you have to leave it out of sight.

• Keep an eye on your luggage during stops.

• If you are travelling internationally, ask the customs authorities about your rights and obligations as a  traveller, particularly with regard to the quantities you are allowed to carry (cigarettes, alcohol, etc).

• If you have forgotten a piece of luggage on the train, contact the lost and found service at your  terminal station.

In case of theft:

• File immediately a complaint with the police.

• Check the terms and conditions of your credit card or of your travel insurance or of your home contents insurance. They may be able to cover the loss.

Your rights:

When buying tickets, you must be informed in an adapted and accessible format about the following:

• accessibility of the railway station and the trains

• equipment of the train

• transport conditions for your mobility devices (wheel chair, crutches)

• your rights, if the train is delayed or cancelled

Your rights:

If the railway company requires the presence of an accompanying person for the duration of the journey, this person must be allowed to travel free of charge and, if possible, to be allowed to sit next to the person with reduced mobility or disability.

Your rights:

If the train is cancelled or delayed the railway company must pay particular attention to persons with reduced mobility or disability.

You must:

• obtain informations regarding the incident

• be informed about the onward journey under comparable conditions

• be supported in a reasonable way, especially if a hotel accomodation is necessary.

Your rights:

You can always take an assistance dog on the train. The dog travels free of charge. If the assistance dog is injured by the fault of the railway company, you can claim for compensation.

Your rights:

When purchasing your tickets, you must be informed in an adapted and accessible format about the transport conditions for your mobility equipment (wheel chair, crutches).

If the mobility equipment or assistive devices are damaged or lost by the fault of the railway company, you can claim for compensation.

Your rights:

Depending on the country, not all rules governing delay will apply to this type of train.
However, information to passengers and assistance to people with reduced mobility or disabilities are still mandatory.

Our advice:

If you have any questions on this subject in a cross-border context, do not hesitate to contact the ECC of your residence country. 

Your rights:

Depending on the country, not all rules governing delay will apply to this type of train.

Our advice:

If you have any questions on this subject in a cross-border context, do not hesitate to contact the ECC of your residence country. 

Your rights at departure and during the journey :

If the train is announced to be more than 60 minutes late at departure, you are entitled to

• meals and drinks in reasonable quantities, taking into account the actual delay,
• accommodation if continuation of the journey is not possible on the same day,
• a means of informing your relatives if the train delay prevents continuation of the journey on the same day,
• transport by other means (e.g. taxi, bus) to the nearest station if the train is permanently stopped in the middle of the track.

Please note! Accommodation may be limited to 3 nights if the train delay is due to extraordinary circumstances (bad weather, sabotage, etc.), through the fault of the passenger or a third party (person on the tracks), with the exception of other transport or rail operating companies.

Our advice:

Ask the railway undertaking for assistance and at the station before taking the initiative to book accommodation yourself.

Your rights on arrival:

If you arrive at your destination with a delay :

• between 60 and 119 minutes compared to the originally scheduled time, you are entitled to compensation of 25% of the ticket price;
• of 120 minutes or more, you are entitled to compensation of 50% of the ticket price.

Good to know: Some railway undertakings or countries may provide compensation from 30 minutes of delay onwards. Ask for more information.

Please note:

• You cannot claim a full refund once you have boarded the train, even if it arrives late (except for commercial provisions specific to each railway undertaking).
• Compensation is not due if the railway undertaking can prove extraordinary circumstances or if the delay in arrival is the fault of the passenger or a third party (people on the tracks, sabotage, etc.).
• You cannot claim automatic reimbursement for services lost at your destination as a result of the delay (accommodation, other transport tickets, etc.). However, this type of loss can be claimed in court as damages if it can be justified and if the delay is not due to extraordinary circumstances.

Our advice:

Find out about your carrier’s compensation rates. They may be higher (compensation for delays of 30 minutes or more, higher percentage of compensation, etc.).

Your rights:

If you missed one of the connections because of a previous train delay, you can request :

• to be re-routed on another train as soon as possible at no extra cost ;
• compensation of 25% of the ticket price if you arrive at your destination less than 2 hours late or 50% of the ticket price for a delay of 2 hours or more, unless the train delay is due to exceptional circumstances (extreme weather conditions, a person on the tracks, etc.) ;
• to be reimbursed if you cancel your journey. The refund must be made within 30 days of your request.

Your rights:

If you miss a connection due to the delay of your previous train and no free alternative is offered to you by the carrier, you are entitled to compensation. It is calculated on the basis of the delay of the train preceding your connection and not on the whole journey (25% of the ticket price if you arrive less than 2 hours late or 50% for a delay of 2 hours or more).

Please note:

If, at the time of purchase, the seller did not inform you that the journey is operated by different carriers and that they are not contractually bound, you may demand reimbursement of the missed train(s) and a compensation of 75% of the total ticket price.

Your rights:

Your tickets, even if they were operated by the same railway undertaking, are not contractually linked. So, if you miss a connection because of a previous train delay, you can request to be re-routed on another train or to be reimbursed of the first train, and a compensation of 25% or 50 % of the ticket price depending on how late you were with this first train.

But you will not have a right to a refund of the missed train journey or compensation.

Our advice:

• Find out the conditions of your tickets for each journey and each carrier. They may allow for a free change or a refund of the missed train with or without penalty.
• If you have travel or cancellation insurance, check whether this is covered.

Your rights:

The rights under the EU regulation 2021/782 (refund or compensation in the event of cancellation) do not necessarily apply to regional, city or superurban trains.
However, information to passengers and assistance to people with reduced mobility or disabilities are still mandatory.

Our advice:

If you have any questions on this subject in a cross-border context, do not hesitate to contact the ECC of your residence country.

Your rights:

The rights under the EU regulation 2021/782 (refund or compensation in the event of cancellation) do not necessarily apply to trains operated for historical or touristic use.

Our advice:

If you have any questions on this subject in a cross-border context, do not hesitate to contact the ECC of your residence country.

Your right to refund:

If you do not travel, you are entitled to a refund of your ticket within 30 days of your request.
If the cancellation occurs during the journey, with a connection, you are also entitled to a free return to your place of departure from there.
Please note: If your tickets have been refunded, you are not entitled to compensation.

Your right to assistance:

• meals and drinks in reasonable quantities, taking into account the actual delay,
• accommodation if re-routing is not possible on the same day,
• a means of informing your relatives if the train delay prevents continuation of your journey on the same day.

You are entitled to compensation and assistance.

Your right to compensation:

• 25% of the ticket price, if you arrive between 60 and 119 minutes late in relation to the originally scheduled time ;
• 50% for a delay of 120 minutes or more on arrival.

Good to know: some railway undertakings or countries may provide compensation from 30 minutes of delay onwards. Ask for more information.

Please note:

• Compensation is not due if the railway undertaking can prove extraordinary circumstances or if the delay in arrival is the fault of the passenger or a third party (people on the tracks, sabotage, etc.).
• You cannot claim a full refund once you have been re-routed free of charge by the railway undertaking.

Your right to assistance on departure:

If the train is cancelled and you are re-routed only after 1 hour or more,you are entitled to

• meals and drinks in reasonable quantities, taking into account the actual delay,
• accommodation if re-routing is not possible on the same day,
• a means of informing your relatives if the train delay prevents continuation of your journey on the same day,

Please note: Accommodation may be limited to 3 nights if the train delay is due to extraordinary circumstances (bad weather, damage caused by a third party, etc.), the fault of the passenger or the behaviour of a third party (with the exception of other transport companies or railway undertakings).

Our advice:

Ask the railway undertaking for assistance and at the station before taking the initiative to book accommodation yourself.

Your rights:

The rights under the European Rail Passengers Rights Regulation (compensation or reimbursement in case of a delay) do not necessarily apply to regional, urban, suburban trains.

Ask the railway company in your destination country, which regulations do apply.

Our advice:

If you want to take a regional, urban or suburban train in another EU country, please feel free to contact the European Consumer Centre Germany in order to get more information about your rights.

Your rights:

The rights under the European Rail Passengers Rights Regulation (compensation or reimbursement in case of a delay) do not apply to historical or tourist trains.

Our advice:

If you want to take an historical or tourist train in another EU country, please feel free to contact the European Consumer Centre Germany in order to get more information about your rights.

Your rights at the beginning of the journey or during your trip:

If the train leaves with a delay of 60 minutes, you have the following rights:

• Meals and refreshments, in reasonable relation to the waiting time, if they are available on the train or in the station, or can reasonably be supplied.

• Hotel accomodation and transport between the railway station and place of accomodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary, where and when it is physically possible.

• Onward journey with another means of transport (e.g. coach, taxi) to the next station, if the train stops due to a defect.

Attention:

If a hotel accomodation is necessary, the railway company can limit the duration of accomodation to a maximum of 3 nights due to the following reasons: Extraordinary circumstances (extreme weather conditions), fault of the passenger, behaviour of a third party (sabotage, persons on the track).

Our advice:

Ask the railway company for help to find a hotel accomodation prior to booking the hotel yourself.

In case of a foreseeable delay of at least 60 minutes: If you do not want to start the journey or if you want to cancel the whole trip, you are entitled to a refund of the ticket price and of a return transport to the starting station free of charge. The reimbursement must be credited on your account within 30 days after having submitted your claim.

If a delay of at least 60 minutes is forseeable and you want to make the journey, you can request a rebooking on another train free of charge. Some railway companies cancel the train commitment. You can choose a new connection yourself under comparable transport conditions. Some railway companies require a seat reservation for the alternative connection, e. g. for the TGV in France. The railway company is obliged to provide you with the seat reservation free of charge.

If the railway company does not offer an alternative connection within 100 minutes, you can book the alternative connection yourself and charge the costs to the railway company. You can also buy a ticket from another railway company or from a bus company. Please note: The cost of a flight is not refundable.

Your rights upon arrival: 

You can claim for compensation if you have already started your journey and if you arrive late at the destination station:

• 25 % of the ticket price for a delay of 60 to 119 minutes

• 50 % of the ticket price for a delay of 120 minutes or more.

Good to know:

Find out about the level of compensation. For example, some railway companies pay compensation for delays of 30 minutes or more. Other railway companies may pay higher amounts than those set out in the European Rail Passenger Rights Regulation. Check the transport conditions.

Please note:

• If you have started your journey and arrive late at your destination station, you cannot require a full refund of the ticket price.

• The railway company is not obliged to pay any compensation if the delay is due to the following reasons: extraordinary circumstances (extreme weather conditions), fault on the part of the passenger, behaviour of a third party (sabotage, persons on the track, etc)

• There is no entitlement to reimbursement of consequential costs incurred as a result of the delay at your destination (rental car, overnight accomodation)

Your rights:

You can request the following, if you miss your connection due to the delay of the previous train:

• If a delay of at least 60 minutes is forseeable and you want to make the journey, you can request a rebooking on another train free of charge. Some railway companies cancel the train commitment. You can choose a new connection yourself under comparable transport conditions. Some railway companies require a seat reservation for the alternative connection, e. g. for the TGV in France. The railway company is obliged to provide you with the seat reservation free of charge.

• If the railway company does not offer an alternative connection within 100 minutes, you can book the alternative connection yourself and charge the costs to the railway company. You can also buy a ticket from another railway company or from a bus company. Please note: The cost of a flight is not refundable

• A compensation of 25 % of the ticket price, if you arrive at your destination station 60 to 119 minutes late, and 50  % of the ticket price, if you arrive with a delay of 120 minutes or more.

Please note:
The railway company is not obliged to pay compensation if the delay is due to extraordinary circumstances (extreme weather conditions) or due to the fault of the passenger or due to the behaviour of a third party (persons on the track, sabotage).

• You are not entitled to reimbursement of any additional expenses incurred at your destination as a result of missing your connection (e.g. rental car, hotel accomodation).

• Reimbursement of the ticket price and return transport to the starting station in the event of a foreseeable delay of 60 minutes if you had to interrupt your journey. The refund must be paid within 30 days.

Your rights:

If you miss your connection due to the delay of the previous train and if the railway company does not offer an alternative connection free of charge, you have the following rights against the ticket seller or against the tour operator:

• Reimbursement of the full ticket price
   

and additionally

• a compensation of 75 % of the ticket price. The refund must be credited to your account within 30 days.

Attention:

If the ticket seller or the tour operator informs you when you buy the ticket that the different sections are operated by different railway companies and that the sections are not contractually linked, you are not entitled to a refund of the fare for the whole journey.

You can only claim compensation for the delayed train. That means: 25% of the ticket price if you arrive at your destination station with a delay between 60 and 119 minutes, or 50% of the ticket price if you arrive at your destination station with a delay of 120 minutes or more.

Your rights:

If you have bought your tickets separately and the different sections are operated by the same train company, they cannot be considered to be through-tickets. Therefore, if you miss your connection due to a delay, you will neither be entitled to a refund for the missed connection nor to a compensation for the missed connection. You can only claim compensation for the delayed train.

Our advice:

If possible, book one ticket for the whole journey (through-ticket). If this is not possible, check with the railway company the ticket conditions for each section. Railway companies may offer free rebooking or a refund in case of a cancelled train. If you have a travel insurance, check whether such cases are covered.

Your rights:

The rights under the European Rail Passenger Rights regulation do not necessarily apply to regional, urban or suburban trains.

Ask the railway company in your destination country which regulations do apply.

Railway companies are still obliged to provide information to people with reduced mobility or disabilities.

Our advice:

If you want to take a regional, urban or suburban train in another EU country, please feel free to contact the European Consumer Centre Germany in order to get more information about your rights.

Your rights:

The rights under the European Rail Passengers Rights Regulation (e.g. rebooking on another train, transport to the starting station in case of a cancelled train) do not apply to historical or tourist trains.

Our advice:

If you want to take a historical or a tourist train in another EU country, please feel free to contact the European Consumer Centre Germany in order to get more information about your rights.

You are entitled to a refund of your ticket and to assistance, if your train is cancelled and you have to cancel the journey as a result.

Refund:

The ticket price must be refunded within 30 days after your request.

If the train is cancelled during the journey, you are entitled to a free return transport to the starting station.

Good to know: 

You cannot claim for an additional compensation, if you have already received a refund of the ticket price.

Assistance:

• Meals and refreshments, in reasonable relation to the waiting time, if they are available on the train or in the station, or can reasonably be supplied.

• Hotel accomodation and transport between the railway station and place of accomodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary, where and when it is physically possible. If a hotel accomodation is necessary, the railway company can limit the duration of accomodation to a maximum of 3 nights due to the following reasons: Extraordinary circumstances (extreme weather conditions), fault of the passenger, behaviour of a third party (sabotage, persons on the track).

Our advice:

• Ask the railway company to help you to find a hotel accomodation prior to booking the hotel yourself.

• Even if you are entitled to assistance, take enough drinks with you. This is especially important if you are travelling with children.

You are entiteld to compensation and assistance.

Compensation:

The amount of the compensation is:

• 25 % of the ticket price, if you arrive at the destination station with a delay of 60 to 119 minutes.

• 50 % of the ticket price, if you arrive at the destination station with a delay of 120 minutes or more.

Good to know:

Some railway companies offer compensation for delays as short as 30 minutes. Inform yourself.

Attention:

The railway company is not obliged to pay any compensation if the delay is due to the following reasons: extraordinary circumstances (extreme weather conditions), fault on the part of the passenger, behaviour of a third party (sabotage, persons on the track, etc)

If you have been rebooked free of charge by the railway company, you cannot claim reimbursement of the ticket price.

There is no entitlement to reimbursement of consequential costs incurred as a result of the delay at your destination (rental car, overnight accomodation)

Assistance:

If the train is cancelled and if you have not been rebooked within one hour, these are your rights:

• Meals and refreshments, in reasonable relation to the waiting time, if they are available on the train or in the station, or can reasonably be supplied.

• Hotel accomodation and transport between the railway station and place of accomodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary, where and when it is physically possible. If a hotel accomodation is necessary, the railway company can limit the duration of accomodation to a maximum of 3 nights due to the following reasons: Extraordinary circumstances (extreme weather conditions), fault of the passenger, behaviour of a third party (sabotage, persons on the track).

Our advice:

Ask the railway company or the station manager for help to find a hotel accomodation prior to booking the hotel yourself.