If your train is delayed by at least 60 minutes, you’re guaranteed cash reimbursement for the travel with EU 1371/2007, but some trains go above and beyond.

EU 1371/2007 is the relevant law to know

You might be aware of EU 261/2004, which governs delays on flights within the European Union. But did you know there’s a train equivalent of that legislation? Should you experience a train delay of 60 minutes or more, you’ll want to know EU 1371/2007 (Chapter IV):

• Delay is measured based on scheduled vs. actual arrival time (not departure time)
• Reimbursement of the unused parts of the purchased journey after a 60 minute delay should the customer choose not to use the ticket, and the cost of re-routing to the destination
• Compensation if the passenger continues on his or her journey based on length of delay:
  • 25% of the ticket price for a delay of 60 – 119 minutes
  • 50% of the ticket price for a delay of 120+ minutes
  • Travel passes or season tickets have a more complicated calculation of delays, to be defined by each train company’s own terms
• This compensation needs to be paid within one month of requesting it
• However, if the customer knows of the delay before purchasing the ticket, no compensation is due

As you might expect, that last blurb is in there to prevent customers from gaming train delays, as delays might be known earlier that day.

Importantly, the compensation for your train travel is in cash, not future train credit. Train companies can also offer train credit, but it can’t take away from the option to receive cash.

There are no carve-outs for cause of delay

You’ll be happy to know that cause of delay is not listed within the text of EU 1371/2007. That means reasons such as weather, maintenance, or employee strikes aren’t ineligible. Trains are intended to be a reliable mode of transportation and the absence of exclusions cements that view.

Contrast this to EU 261/2004, which has limitations including “extraordinary circumstances”. Airlines have been using this vague category to get themselves out of compensation. In some cases, airlines have expanded interpretation of “extraordinary circumstances” to almost place the burden of proof that it’s not extraordinary on the claimant. Thankfully, EU 1371/2007 contains no such provision.

The UK also has its own version

As the UK is governed by its own set of laws, you should know that officially EU 1371/2007 doesn’t apply to trains in the UK. However, the UK adopted its own version of the rules and called it EC 1371/2007. The same protections apply. Since the naming convention is almost identical, you can use them interchangeably and generally be understood. But for the sake of being precise, just know there is a separate set of legislation for the UK.

Major train operators all have a site to request compensation

This isn’t meant to be a complete list of every train company. The main theme is that it’s pretty easy to request delay compensation for trains. In fact, it feels easier than requesting compensation for flights. You’ll have up to three months after travel to request compensation.

Deutsche Bahn

There are two main ways to request delay compensation with Deutsche Bahn. The first is logging into your reservation to request compensation directly. The second method is to fill out a PDF, attach your receipts, and mail it in. These days, we’d prefer the online option as we imagine you’ll get a faster response.

Eurostar

Eurostar allows for you to claim compensation either in cash or some extra money as a voucher.

• Delays of 60-119 minutes
  • 25% cash reimbursement, or
  • 30% e-voucher
• Delays of 120-179 minutes
  • 50% cash reimbursement, or
  • 60% e-voucher
• Delays of 180+ minutes
  • 50% cash reimbursement, or
  • 75% e-voucher

You can make the request either by clicking into your reservation or by proceeding to their dedicated page for refunds.

Renfe

Think other train companies are generous with delays? Some delays on Renfe trains might even provider 100% reimbursement:

• Commercial trains (AVE, Avlo, Alvia, Euromed, Intercity, Long Distance)
  • 50% reimbursement for delays of 60-89 minutes
  • 100% reimbursement for delays of 90+ minutes
• AVE International (between Spain and France)
  • Spanish inland routes:
    • 50% reimbursement for delays of 60-89 minutes
    • 100% reimbursement for delays of 90+ minutes
  • French inland routes:
    • 25% reimbursement for delays of 30-119 minutes
    • 50% reimbursement for delays of 120-179 minutes
    • 75% reimbursement for delays of 180+ minutes
  • International routes between Spain and France:
    • 25% reimbursement for delays of 30-119 minutes
    • 50% reimbursement for delays of 120+ minutes
• Avant
  • 50% reimbursement for delays of 15-29 minutes
  • 100% reimbursement for delays of 30+ minutes
• Media Distancia Public Services
  • 25% reimbursement for delays of 15-29 minutes
  • 50% reimbursement for delays of 30-59 minutes
  • 100% reimbursement for delays of 60+ minutes
• Regional and Regional Express
  • 25% reimbursement for delays of 30-44 minutes
  • 50% reimbursement for delays of 45-59 minutes
  • 100% reimbursement for delays of 60+ minutes

Integrated tickets, which are considered a combination of Avant and Media Distancia, are governed by a separate set of rules. Since there are so many different types of trains, the rates can be a bit confusing.

You can request compensation by logging into your reservation.

SBB

Train delay compensation on SBB trains in Switzerland is handled via online form.

SJ

If your trains are delayed on SJ trains in Sweden, you’ll get compensation at the following rates:

• Routes under 150 km in length:
  • 50% refund for delays of 20-39 minutes
  • 75% refund for delays of 40-59 minutes
  • 100% refund for delays of 60+ minutes
• Routes of 150 km or more in length:
  • 25% refund for delays of 60-119 minutes
  • 50% refund for delays of 120 minutes

Just head over to their compensation site to make a claim. It’s great that shorter routes have an option to get 100% reimbursement.

SNCB

Delays of 60 minutes or more are eligible for compensation on SNCB trains in Belgium. Conveniently, any train delay of at least 60 minutes will get you 100% compensation. You’ll be able to request this directly within your account or by visiting a ticket office.

SNCF (TGV trains)

Conveniently, TGV trains offer compensation starting at a 30 minute delay, even more liberal than EU 1371/2007 demands. However, delays between 30 and 59 minutes long will only result in a train voucher (25% of purchase price). Only delays of 60 minutes or more will receive the option of cash compensation.

Requesting compensation is done via online form.

Trenitalia

There is some differentiation between local trains (Frecce, Intercity, and Intercity Notte trains) and regional trains. For local trains, you can make a request for compensation when logged into your reservation. Regional trains have a separate page where you can request compensation.

Process of applying for compensation with Eurostar

As an example, we’d like to show you how incredibly easy it was to submit a claim with Eurostar. Our train from Amsterdam to Brussels was delayed due to a national strike that slowed things in Brussels. While our train was scheduled to arrive at 1:06PM, it ended up delayed by 90 minutes.

After my journey, I logged back into my ticket at Eurostar.com to find the following at the top of the screen. They’re not shy about directing you to the right place to request compensation.

I filled out the information for all four of us, entering their names into the Traveller detail fields. As long as you still have your ticket numbers, this should be an easy form to fill out.

Sure enough, after filling out their form, I received notice that I should expect payment within 28 days. I never received another email from Eurostar on the submission. Thankfully, I found four separate refunds on my credit card statement roughly a week after submitting the request. Consider me a fan of how simple the process is.

Have you had to request delay compensation from European trains? Did you find it simple?

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