Delayed 60+ minutes at your destination? EU Regulation 1371/2007 guarantees 25-50% ticket refund - even for weather and strikes.
EU Regulation 1371/2007 on Rail Passengers' Rights and Obligations is one of Europe's best-kept consumer protection secrets. Unlike airline passenger rights (EU261), which 90% of travelers know about, rail passenger rights remain obscure despite being MORE generous in critical ways. The regulation applies to all EU member states plus UK, Switzerland, and Norway. It covers international trains and long-distance domestic services—basically any train you'd book online or buy a reserved ticket for.
Here's the fundamental difference from airline compensation: Train operators CANNOT use weather, strikes, or technical issues as excuses to deny compensation. While airlines hide behind "extraordinary circumstances" to refuse €600 payouts for flight delays, train companies must pay 25-50% refunds for virtually ANY delay over 60 minutes. The burden of proof is on the railway to demonstrate "force majeure" (acts of God beyond their control)—and courts interpret this VERY narrowly.
1. Automatic Compensation for Delays
60-119 minutes late at final destination: 25% ticket refund. 120+ minutes late: 50% ticket refund. No questions asked, no need to prove damages. It's your money by law.
2. Assistance Rights (60+ Minute Delays)
Meals, refreshments, hotel accommodation if overnight delay. Train operator must arrange and pay. Failure to provide assistance? Additional compensation claim.
3. Alternative Routing at No Extra Cost
If your train is delayed or cancelled, operator must reroute you on next available train (or bus, or taxi if no train available) at no charge. Includes trains from competing operators.
4. Full Refund Option
For delays 60+ minutes, you can abandon the journey and demand 100% refund of unused ticket portion + return transport to origin point. Useful for important appointments you'll now miss.
Coverage nuances: International trains (Eurostar, Thalys, EC, IC trains crossing borders) are ALWAYS covered 100%. Long-distance domestic trains (German ICE, French TGV, Italian Frecciarossa, Spanish AVE) are covered. Urban/suburban trains vary—German S-Bahn generally covered, French RER usually exempt. Regional trains: check operator policy (Deutsche Bahn includes them, SNCF often excludes).
The regulation's beauty lies in simplicity: Delay exceeds 60 minutes at final destination? You're owed money. Doesn't matter if it's snowing (weather), drivers striking (industrial action), signal failure (technical problem), or police incident (security). The ONLY exceptions are genuine acts of God—earthquakes destroying tracks, wars, terrorism, floods making travel physically impossible. And even then, train operators bear the burden of proof. Success rate for properly documented claims: 70%+. The 30% that fail usually lack proper documentation (lost tickets, couldn't prove delay time) or missed filing deadlines.
Important: Delay is calculated at your FINAL destination arrival time, not intermediate stops or departure time. Even if you depart on time but arrive 65 minutes late, you qualify for 25% refund.
Beyond ticket refunds, you're entitled to assistance
60+ minute delay:
Meals and refreshments (reasonable value). Most operators provide vouchers.
Overnight delay:
Hotel accommodation + transport to hotel. Operator must arrange and pay.
Alternative routing:
Free rebooking on next available train or alternative transport at no extra cost.
Full refund option (60+ min delay):
Can choose to abandon journey and get 100% ticket refund instead of continuing with delay compensation.
Here's where EU rail passenger rights absolutely destroy airline passenger rights. Airlines have the infamous "extraordinary circumstances" loophole in EU261: technical failure? Pay up. Weather? No compensation. Strike? No compensation. Bird strike? No compensation. The list of excuses is endless, and airlines exploit it ruthlessly. Result: 40-60% of legitimate flight delay claims are denied on bogus "extraordinary circumstances" grounds.
Train operators tried to insert the same loophole into EU Regulation 1371/2007. Lobbied hard. Failed spectacularly. The regulation contains NO general "extraordinary circumstances" exception. Instead, it specifies train operators are liable for delays UNLESS caused by "circumstances not connected with the railway operation which the railway undertaking, in spite of having taken the care required in the particular case, could not avoid and the consequences of which it was unable to prevent."
Train operators MUST PAY for delays caused by:
Translation: Basically everything that routinely delays trains = operator liability. They can't weasel out.
Train operators can refuse compensation ONLY for:
Even for these extreme events, operator must prove: (1) Event was completely outside railway's control, (2) Railway took all reasonable preventive measures, (3) Consequences were unavoidable despite best efforts. Courts interpret this VERY strictly.
Case 1: "Unprecedented Snowfall" (Germany, 2019)
Deutsche Bahn refused compensation for 90-minute delays during heavy snow, claiming "extraordinary weather." Passenger sued. Court ruled: Germany gets snow every winter. Railway must plan for predictable weather. Weather only excuse if genuinely unprecedented (e.g., snow in Sahara Desert). DB paid compensation + court costs.
Case 2: Staff Strike (France, 2018)
SNCF train delayed 3 hours due to signal operator strike. SNCF denied compensation: "Strike is force majeure." Passenger appealed to Ombudsman. Ruling: Railways are responsible for labor relations. Should have contingency plans. Must maintain minimum service. Strike caused by railway's labor management = railway's liability. SNCF paid 50% refund + €50 goodwill payment.
Case 3: "Person on Tracks" (Netherlands, 2020)
NS train delayed 75 minutes, unauthorized person on tracks. NS refused compensation: "Security incident beyond our control." Court decision: Railways must have security measures (fencing, monitoring, rapid response). Trespassing is foreseeable risk. Unless deliberate sabotage/terrorism, railway liable. Passenger awarded 25% refund.
Bottom line: 95%+ of train delays qualify for compensation. Unlike airlines, you don't need to fight bogus excuses. Document your delay, file claim, collect your money. The regulation's default position is passenger protection, not operator protection. This is why train operators process claims much faster than airlines—they know they'll lose if challenged.
Enter your journey details to calculate your exact refund amount
Enter your journey details to calculate your exact refund amount
Keep your ticket
Original paper ticket or PDF/mobile ticket. This is your proof of travel.
Note exact arrival time
Record actual arrival time at final destination (not intermediate stops). Take photo of station clock or delay board if possible.
Get delay confirmation (if available)
Ask conductor for written delay confirmation or stamp. Not required but helpful.
Online claim (fastest method)
Most operators have online forms: Deutsche Bahn (bahn.de/fahrgastrechte), SNCF (sncf.com/reclamation), Trenitalia, Renfe. Upload ticket photo, enter journey details.
Mail/PDF claim form
Download PDF form from operator website. Fill out, attach ticket copy, mail to customer service address. Keep copy for records.
Time limits (varies by operator)
Deutsche Bahn: 1 year, SNCF: 60 days, most others: 6-12 months. File claim ASAP.
Provide bank details
IBAN (EU bank account) for refund. Most operators pay via bank transfer, some offer vouchers (you can refuse and demand cash).
Typical processing time
Most claims processed within 4-8 weeks. Deutsche Bahn often faster (2-4 weeks). SNCF can take 8-12 weeks.
If approved
Refund sent to bank account (IBAN) or voucher issued. If voucher offered, you can request cash instead.
If denied
Operator must provide written reason. Most denials are invalid - escalate to next step.
National rail passenger rights body
Germany: Schlichtungsstelle für den öffentlichen Personenverkehr (söp), France: SNCF Médiation, Each EU country has enforcement body. Free mediation.
European Consumer Centers Network
For cross-border disputes: www.eccnet.eu. Free assistance filing complaints.
Small claims court
For claims under €5,000. Simple process, no lawyer needed. High success rate for documented train delay cases.
The single most important decision when booking connecting train journeys: Buy one through ticket or separate tickets for each leg? This choice determines whether you have full EU passenger rights protection or you're on your own when connections fail.
THROUGH TICKET (Single Booking): FULL PROTECTION
Example: Paris → Frankfurt → Munich, booked as single ticket €120. First leg delayed 40 min, miss Frankfurt connection. Next train 2 hours later. Arrive Munich 140 minutes late total. Result: 50% refund (€60) + free rebooking. Total journey is protected.
Eurail and Interrail pass holders have the same passenger rights as ticket holders, but compensation calculation differs since passes cover unlimited travel. You're entitled to compensation based on equivalent single ticket value for the delayed journey, not a percentage of the pass price.
Deadline: 1 year
Processing: 2-4 weeks
Claim URL: bahn.de/fahrgastrechte
Deadline: 60 days
Processing: 8-12 weeks
Claim URL: sncf.com/reclamation
Deadline: 12 months
Processing: 4-8 weeks
Claim URL: trenitalia.com
Deadline: 6 months
Processing: 4-6 weeks
Claim URL: renfe.com
Deadline: 1 year
Processing: 4-8 weeks
Claim URL: ns.nl
Deadline: 1 year
Processing: 3-6 weeks
Claim URL: oebb.at
Don't wait. File your claim within 7 days while memory is fresh and evidence is readily available. Most operators process recent claims faster than old claims. Deutsche Bahn allows 1-year deadline, but claims filed within 30 days get priority processing (2-3 weeks vs. 6-8 weeks for old claims).
Train delay rights vary by jurisdiction. Our AI will analyze your journey, identify applicable regulations (EU Regulation 1371/2007 or carrier policies), and calculate your refund (25-50% for delays over 60 minutes in EU). Don't leave money on the table.