Delays and train cancellations: What rights passengers have in the event of a rail strike

How do I know if my train is running during a rail strike?
How can I still get to my destination despite the strike?
When am I entitled to compensation in the event of a strike?
Am I entitled to compensation even if I have a season ticket?
How can I have my ticket refunded?
What if I don't want to start or cancel my journey because of the rail strike?
What should I do if I am stranded at a station?

Service - Delays and train cancellations: what rights passengers have in the event of a rail strike

The outlook for commuters is bleak: the GDL union has announced that it will go on strike from Thursday evening. The warning strike is not due to end until Friday night. Rail travelers will then have to be patient. In the event of a strike, numerous connections will be canceled and many passengers will be waiting for the few trains that are still running. People join long queues in front of travel centers or even get stranded at train stations.

We give you an overview of what rail travelers can do on strike days and when they are entitled to compensation.

How do I know if my train is running during a rail strike?

Deutsche Bahn states on its website that it always tries to set up an alternative timetable during strikes. Long-distance travelers should find out 12 hours before departure whether their train is running or not. You can do this online at the travel information service or in the DB Navigator app. Deutsche Bahn provides information on current traffic reports and strikes at bahn.de/aktuell. In the event of a strike, Deutsche Bahn is usually accommodating and travelers can still change their travel times if they wish.

If you are not traveling on Deutsche Bahn trains but with a private rail company, you should first go to the company's website for information in the event of a strike, advises the consumer advice center.

How can I still get to my destination despite the strike?

In the past, Deutsche Bahn has sometimes organized cab rides for local passengers at larger stations. If you want to use a cab on your own, you have to meet certain requirements for a rail company to cover the costs. This is regulated by the EU Passenger Regulation.

The rail company must reimburse passengers for the cost of a cab ride up to a maximum of 120 euros if their planned arrival at their destination is between midnight and 5 a.m.. And the destination would be reached at least 60 minutes later by train. The same applies if the last scheduled train of the day is canceled and the destination cannot be reached otherwise by midnight.

In the event of a strike, Deutsche Bahn sometimes allows passengers with a local train ticket to travel on long-distance services. This means that in such cases, travelers can also use an IC or ICE train with their ticket for local transport. Rail companies can also organize shared buses as a substitute. Travelers can find up-to-date information in the event of a strike at bahn.de/aktuell.

When am I entitled to compensation in the event of a strike?

If a train is severely delayed or canceled altogether, rail passengers are entitled to compensation. This is also regulated by the EU Passenger Regulation.

If passengers arrive at their destination one hour late, they are reimbursed 25 percent of the fare; if the delay exceeds 120 minutes, a reimbursement of 50 percent of the fare is due.

Delays always relate to the arrival time at the destination. This means that if, for example, passengers traveling from Hamburg to Giessen with a change of trains in Kassel miss their connection due to a 15-minute delay when changing trains and therefore arrive at their destination station an hour late, they are also entitled to compensation.

However, according to the new EU Passenger Rights Regulation, as of June 2023, rail companies no longer have to pay compensation if the delay is due to certain "extraordinary circumstances" for which the rail company is not responsible. These include natural disasters or delays caused by third parties - such as people on the tracks. Compensation must still be paid in the event of rail strikes.

From a delay of 20 minutes at the destination station, rail passengers can take another train. This can also be a higher-value train - if it is not subject to reservation. However, passengers must first pay the additional ticket or the surcharge for long-distance travel themselves. And subsequently claim the higher costs back from the railroad company. Please note: This rule does not apply to"significantly discounted" tickets, such as country tickets or a Schönes-Wochenende ticket. According to the Railway Traffic Regulations (§3 Para. 4 EVO), the Deutschland-Ticket also falls under the category of heavily discounted tickets.

Am I also entitled to compensation with a season ticket?

Even with a season ticket, such as a monthly ticket, travelers can get money back if they are at least 60 minutes late. "For season tickets on local transport, delays must be written down and submitted to the Service Center for Passenger Rights at the end of the month. Passengers receive the following for season tickets on local transport: 1.50 euros (2nd class), 2.25 euros (1st class)," informs the consumer advice center. However, amounts of less than four euros will not be paid out - so as a rule, several delays must have occurred.

How can I have my ticket refunded?

Deutsche Bahn recommends that you always have delays confirmed by company employees. On strike days, however, this can often prove to be laborious. The consumer advice center therefore recommends documenting the delay by taking photos of the display boards or a screenshot of the delay information in the app or on the website.

Compensation can be submitted to Deutsche Bahn by post with a completed passenger rights form and receipts or handed in at the travel center. Customers who have purchased a ticket online can also do this directly in the app or on the computer in their customer account. Further information on online refunds can be found here.

All refunds must be made within one year of the expiry of the validity period of the corresponding ticket. The first day of validity is noted on the ticket.

What if I don't want to start or cancel my journey because of the rail strike?

If it is already clear before departure that the train will arrive at the destination at least one hour later than planned, rail travelers may cancel the journey and be reimbursed the full fare. This also applies to canceled trains or missed connections; if you are already on the way and cancel your journey, you can be reimbursed for the unused portion. If travelers return to their original station, they will receive a full refund.

Since the reform of EU passenger rights, travelers have another option: they can continue/start their journey with another transport company, for example Flixtrain or Flixbus. The costs are reimbursed if the rail company has agreed to this onward transportation with another provider. Or passengers "were not informed by the rail company within 100 minutes of the scheduled departure time of the delayed or canceled service or the missed connection whether and how they can continue their journey with a different route," writes the consumer advice center.

What should I do if I get stranded at a station?

The worst-case scenario for many travelers during a strike is being stranded at a station. If the train cannot take you to your destination by any other means, the company must arrange accommodation for you. The way to the hotel and the next day to the station must also be organized. This regulation also applies if travelers are stranded at a destination due to "extraordinary circumstances". However, the rail company can then limit accommodation to three nights.

If you want to arrange your own hotel, the consumer advice center recommends that you obtain confirmation from the relevant rail company that there are no more trains running that day and that the company cannot help you with accommodation. Consumers must keep the hotel bill in order to be able to submit it. The railroad informs on its website that hotel costs of up to 120 euros can be entered online in the passenger rights form under the item "Due to the delay I had additional expenses | I could not use my reservation". For costs higher than 120 euros, the original receipts must be submitted by post.