October 14, 2025, 9:02 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Frequent travelers with Deutsche Bahn (DB) likely no longer rely on the availability of onboard dining options. The bistro and restaurant are often closed due to technical issues or staff shortages, or at least do not offer full service. It would also be naive to plan on handling emails or other tasks requiring a stable internet connection during the train ride–the Wi-Fi often fails. Increasingly, the question arises: Why pay for more expensive Deutsche Bahn tickets when these additional services–which are supposed to justify part of the price–regularly fail? Especially since no compensation is currently offered. Yet! TRAVELBOOK reports on current demands in favor of passengers.
It can be bluntly stated: Things are not going well at Deutsche Bahn right now. Construction work on numerous routes leads to schedule changes, causing significant disruptions in operations. Additionally, holiday periods with increased passenger numbers present challenges for the provider. Delays and canceled connections are possible consequences. For these, at least, the railway offers compensation. To make the potentially extended travel time more pleasant, both functioning Wi-Fi and an open bistro or restaurant would be helpful. The latter, in particular, is a supposed argument for booking with the railway over competitors like Flixtrain, which lacks food and beverage services: Their trains are not equipped with such services. However, in practice, things often don’t look much better at DB.
No Compensation When Bistro and Wi-Fi Are Unavailable
Some people enjoy sitting in the dining car–if only for the entertainment that unexpected encounters can bring. Even if the culinary offerings don’t convince everyone (and that’s a matter of taste), traveling in the dining car has a romantic appeal for many. However, the restaurant and bistro are often unstaffed. This would likely annoy even those who don’t care for either, especially when a snack is needed on longer journeys. It’s particularly frustrating when the trip is extended due to delays. As mentioned: frustrating–nothing more, nothing less.
“According to the transportation conditions, there is no entitlement to a staffed bistro,” explains Detlef Neuß, federal chairman of the passenger association Pro Bahn, when asked by TRAVELBOOK. Passengers are therefore not entitled to financial compensation. The same applies to functioning Wi-Fi. To grant compensation to passengers denied these additional services, a change in the railway’s transportation conditions would be necessary. However, Neuß notes: “Since DB Fernverkehr is a corporation obligated to profit-oriented operations, a change in the transportation conditions is not in sight.”
What Neuß means is that it is currently unlikely that DB will introduce compensation for a failed bistro or Wi-Fi. Simply because they don’t have to. It’s different with significant delays and train cancellations. According to the EU regulation 2021/782, which has been in effect since 2023, travelers are entitled to compensation of 25 percent of the fare for delays of 60 minutes or more, and 50 percent for delays of 120 minutes or more. This legal compensation obligation applies exclusively to transportation services, not to additional services like dining or internet. Introducing voluntary additional service guarantees would hardly be sensible for DB from a business perspective.
Can I Really “Live” on the Train with the BahnCard 100?
Why Deutsche Bahn’s Wi-Fi Often Doesn’t Work
States Push for Legal Regulation
One possibility would be for the federal government or the EU to legally mandate that additional services like Wi-Fi or onboard dining must also be eligible for compensation. There are corresponding demands: Several states advocated for such a regulation in a joint resolution in July. They emphasize the importance of reliable service during train travel, as reported by the “Rheinische Post.” The states are urging the federal government to examine the introduction of legal compensation rules. They are supported by politicians from various parties and passenger associations. “Of course, we would be in favor of changing the transportation conditions in the interest of passengers,” Pro Bahn chairman Neuß also emphasizes to TRAVELBOOK.
What Does Deutsche Bahn Say About This?
Deutsche Bahn describes both the onboard dining options and Wi-Fi as “voluntary additional services.” Their availability depends on technical and personnel factors; compensation for their failure is currently not planned. TRAVELBOOK has inquired with the press office about the company’s stance on the recent demands. A response is still pending.