Delays and compensation: What passengers now need to know!

Delays and compensation: What passengers now need to know!

A recently published report by the Complexity Science Hub in Vienna has brought alarming results on train delays. Under the direction of Vito Servedio, it was examined how individual late trains burden the entire rail network and lead to enormous costs for the rail operators. The study, as described in the journal "NPJ Sustainable Mobility and Transport", deals with the critical connection of train delays and its effects on subsequent connections and shows that there is a need for action.

claims and compensation for passengers

The situation for passengers is further complicated by legal regulations. According to the requirements of the railway traffic regulation, railway companies are obliged to offer compensation for delays and train failures. If a passenger arrives with more than an hour delay, it receives 25 % of the fare, with a delay of 120 minutes it is even 50 %. However, these compensation only applies if there is no "force majeure", such as extreme weather conditions. For example, a traveler who has to take a taxi due to a unusual train can be reimbursed up to 120 euros to continue his trip if the circumstances require how the website of the EBA explains in detail.

Furthermore, the law ensures that the railway companies have to ensure the catering of passengers in the event of longer delays. If the last train fails and the passenger cannot reach its goal until midnight, it can switch to alternative means of transport, which further strengthens the rights of travelers.

With the latest research it becomes clear that the causes of these delays are lower and that it is time to check the processes in rail traffic. While passengers can assert their claims, the operators have to work on efficient solutions in order to minimize late trains in the future, as Noen reports and the legal requirements of the eba explained .