October 29, 2025, 11:13 am | Read time: 6 minutes

When are you entitled to compensation for train delays?

Passengers can demand compensation for delays of at least 60 minutes at the destination station. According to consumer centers in Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia, 25 percent of the ticket price is refunded. For delays of 120 minutes or more, the claim increases to 50 percent. However, the refund amount must be at least four euros.

Trip not taken? Get a full ticket refund

If it becomes clear before departure that the train will reach the destination at least 60 minutes late, travelers can cancel the contract and receive a full ticket refund. Alternatively, a trip can be interrupted en route–in this case, passengers can have the unused portion of the journey refunded or return to the departure station free of charge.

It’s important to collect as much evidence of delays or cancellations as possible, says Markus Hagge, a legal expert at the Lower Saxony consumer center. This can be done through screenshots from the train app, photos of display boards, or confirmation from train staff. Although, according to Deutsche Bahn, a certificate for passenger rights is not strictly necessary–the company’s website states: “Claims are regulated by the respective railway company, even without such a certificate.” Nevertheless, having your own evidence is advisable in case of doubt.

How to file compensation claims

Passengers have up to three months to assert their claims. This can be done via the DB Navigator app, online through the Bahn website, or traditionally using the passenger rights form.

Holders of season tickets such as the Deutschlandticket, a Bahncard 100, or other monthly passes also receive flat-rate compensation. According to ADAC, the following rates apply:

• Long-distance season tickets: 5 euros (2nd class), 7.50 euros (1st class)
• Local transport season tickets: 1.50 euros (2nd class), 2.25 euros (1st class)
• Bahncard 100: 10 euros (2nd class), 15 euros (1st class)

Again, the minimum threshold of four euros must be exceeded. Multiple delays can be submitted together to reach the minimum amount.

No compensation for “extraordinary circumstances”

Since an EU rule change in June 2023, there are restrictions: Compensation is not provided if delays or cancellations are caused by so-called extraordinary circumstances–situations beyond the control of the railway company. These include:

• Extreme weather conditions such as natural disasters
• The actions of third parties (such as official measures affecting train operations, e.g., police operations)
• The fault of the individual passenger

Important: Normal, seasonally related weather events like autumn storms are not automatically considered extraordinary. “The railway might try to argue this in borderline cases,” says legal expert Markus Hagge. The individual case assessment is crucial. Strikes by the company’s own staff, however, are not considered extraordinary–here, there is still a right to compensation.

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Additional rights: Meals, hotel, taxi

Even if there is no compensation, claims for meals and onward travel remain. The railway is obliged to inform about alternatives for onward travel within 100 minutes of the scheduled departure.

If you have to wait longer at the station, free drinks and meals must be provided–but only if this is “available on the train or at the station or reasonably deliverable considering criteria such as the distance from the supplier, the required delivery time, and the costs.” In practice, this means: Sometimes there’s a bottle of water in the onboard bistro, sometimes just warm words.

Entitlement to taxi or hotel: These are the conditions

If it becomes clear that you will not reach the destination station between midnight and 5 a.m. as planned and a delay of at least 60 minutes is expected, you may take a taxi up to 120 euros on your own. These costs can then be reimbursed. The same applies if the destination station cannot be reached by midnight without alternative transportation.

If onward travel on the same day is no longer possible or reasonable, the railway also covers hotel costs–but only within a “reasonable” framework. Markus Hagge explains: “You can’t expect the passenger to sleep at the station or go to the station mission.” However, if you book a hotel independently in such a case, you should also consider the so-called duty to mitigate damages: Do not choose the most expensive hotel if cheaper alternatives are available nearby.

According to Hagge, the railway also has the right to offer alternatives for onward travel such as hotel or taxi vouchers–if this is regulated in the terms and conditions, these take precedence. It is also important here to carefully collect all receipts and evidence.

Train binding lifted–what applies then?

If the delay is more than 20 minutes, the train binding is lifted–this means that even travelers with saver or super saver tickets can use other trains. The railway states on its website: “You can use a later connection of your choice (e.g., later on the same travel day, one day later, or even up to 3 weeks later. This is possible up to one year after the original travel date).”

Holders of local transport tickets may also use higher-class trains, but must pay the difference in advance and can then have it refunded. For the Deutschlandticket, this rule only applies in limited cases, such as night delays.

Incidentally, the compensation rights also apply if the trip is started later than originally planned–the actual delay upon arrival is decisive. It is advisable to document the predicted delay well in advance, advises Detlef Neuß from the Pro Bahn passenger association. The initial mentioned gradations of 60 and 120 minutes with 25 and 50 percent ticket price refund also apply here.

with material from dpa