The bad news for everyone who wants to travel with Deutsche Bahn in the near future: The GDL train drivers have been on strike again in passenger traffic since Thursday morning. This time for five days. But at least: The passenger rights of the EU Passenger Regulation also apply in the event of a strike – as well as in the event of delays or train cancellations due to other causes. In detail it looks like this:
What to do if the train doesn’t go
If a train is canceled due to the strike or if the passenger misses their connection, they can switch to any other train at no extra charge – if one is running again. In the case of offers such as a saver fare ticket, the train connection is canceled. Rail travelers can also change to another train if they expect their train to reach its destination with a delay of more than 20 minutes. If someone then takes a more expensive train instead, for example an ICE instead of a local train, they have to pay the surcharge first, but they can get the money but then have it reimbursed. Heavily discounted tickets such as country tickets and the Quer -übers-Land-Ticket are excluded from this. In general, in response to the renewed strike announcement, Deutsche Bahn promised to be “maximally accommodating”. For example, tickets can be used flexibly during the strike period, trips can be started earlier or postponed until September 17th, as the company announced.
Does the train pay for delays?
In the event of delays, there is a legal right to compensation, regardless of the cause. If a passenger arrives at their destination at least one hour late, the train has to reimburse 25 percent of the fare; if the passenger is two hours late, it is 50 percent. This also applies to night travel. You can choose between a voucher or the payment of the amount.
How can passengers prove connection disruptions?
The consumer advice center North Rhine-Westphalia advises collecting receipts for delays or train cancellations. Ideally, travelers should have the disruption from DB employees at the train station certified. Alternatively, those affected can also take photos of display boards or screenshots of information in the DB app or on the railway company’s website showing the delay or cancellation of the train.
How do travelers get their compensation?
To assert claims, must the corresponding passenger rights form fill out. Those affected get this form on the train, at the DB information desk, in DB travel centers or on the website of the railway. If the ticket was bought via a customer account on bahn.de, Claims can now also be registered online and in the DB Navigator app.
What if you don’t want to travel anymore?
Anyone affected by the strike can get their train ticket including seat reservation in a DB travel center or a travel agency with a DB license Get a full refund free of charge. For online tickets there is an application form on the website of the railway.
How does Deutsche Bahn compensate commuters and travelers with season tickets?
From a delay of 60 minutes, passengers with a season ticket receive a flat rate compensation per trip. Second-class long-distance travel cards cost five euros and first-class tickets cost 7.50 euros. Bahn-Card-100 holders get ten euros in second class and 15 euros in first class.
The S-Bahn operated by Deutsche Bahn are also often affected by strikes. But in local transport, passengers cannot expect any noteworthy compensation. If you are 60 minutes late or more, there is a flat rate of 1.50 euros in the second class and 2.25 euros in the first. The same amounts apply to country tickets or cross-country tickets. However, amounts of four euros or more are only paid out in local transport. Customers therefore only receive money from the second or third delay within the period of validity of the time card and should submit the failures collectively to the Passenger Rights Service Center after they have expired.
Is there a right to food for those waiting?
“In the event of a delay of more than 60 minutes, the train must offer refreshments and meals free of charge in proportion to the waiting time,” says Beatrix Kaschel from the local transport arbitration board in Düsseldorf. If nothing of the kind is offered, travelers should keep receipts for food they have bought themselves, she advises.
Does the train pay a taxi or a hotel room?
First of all, travelers have to find out whether the train offers an alternative connection, for example a rail replacement service. If this is the case, the offer of the railway always has priority.
It is therefore important to pay attention to announcements and displays on the platform, says Kaschel. And “if you have received a voucher for the taxi, it is better to ask the driver beforehand whether he will accept the voucher at no extra cost,” advises Kaschel.
Taking a taxi on your own, on the other hand, could be expensive. Because for it apply special rules: The train only has to reimburse costs of up to 80 euros – and only if the planned arrival at the destination station is between midnight and five o’clock and one would have to expect a delay of at least one hour for the train. The reimbursement also applies if the last scheduled train of the day is canceled and the destination would otherwise not be reached by midnight.
If the continuation of the journey on the same day is not possible or unreasonable, the railway must also bear the costs for a hotel room. “Appropriate accommodation costs will then be reimbursed,” as DB says. Since options organized by the railways have priority, passengers should first contact the ticket sales or information point or the train staff on site.
What if you miss a flight because of the train strike?
Anyone who has not booked a package tour or at least a Rail & Fly ticket will probably be left with the costs. Because the train only has to compensate for a canceled train ticket and not for a flight. Passengers can only hope for the goodwill of the airline when rebooking – or in this case take a taxi at their own expense in order to check-in on time.