The train drivers are on strike, long-distance and regional traffic will be severely affected.
These are the rights of passengers in the event of train delays and cancellations.
Munich - Rail travelers are threatened with chaos from Wednesday, the German Train Drivers Union (GDL) has called for strikes in the wage dispute with the railways.
Passengers are entitled to compensation if trains fail, are significantly late, or if the connection is missed as a result.
Here's everything you need to know.
Rail strike - when is there compensation?
The EU passenger regulation also applies to strikes and regulates the right to compensation.
If you arrive at your destination at least one hour late, you will be reimbursed 25 percent of the fare; if you arrive two hours late, the responsible railway company has to reimburse 50 percent of the price.
According to the railway, passengers can choose between a voucher or payment of the amount.
If there is an expected delay of 20 minutes at the destination station, passengers can take another train.
Higher quality trains can also be used, provided they do not require a reservation.
The surcharge paid will be refunded.
Season tickets are reimbursed as a lump sum if the delay is at least one hour.
Since amounts under four euros are not paid out, passengers usually have to collect delays and submit them together.
Rail strike - can I cancel the trip?
If it is foreseeable that the train will arrive at its destination at least an hour later than planned, passengers may withdraw from the trip and have the full fare reimbursed.
This also applies to failed trains or missed connections.
Anyone who is already on the way and therefore interrupts the journey can have the part not used reimbursed.
Anyone who drives back to the starting station gets the full price back.
Rail strike and the consequences - how do I get my money?
Deutsche Bahn recommends always having employees confirm delays.
Consumer advocates also advise taking photos of display boards showing the delayed or canceled trains, or taking screenshots from the app or the website.
With these receipts, the ticket and the completed passenger rights form, complaints can be made about the trip.
The form can be downloaded directly from the delayed train, from the Deutsche Bahn travel center or online.
The documents must be sent to the railway or handed in at the travel center.
A digital reimbursement has recently become possible: If the ticket was purchased online or on the go, the compensation can simply be requested via your own customer account in the Bahn app or at bahn.de.
The following applies to all refunds: They must be claimed within one year of the expiry of the relevant ticket.
The first day of validity is noted on the ticket.
What am I still entitled to after the rail strike?
Anyone stranded at a train station in the evening and cannot get any further is entitled to replacement transport or, in the worst case, accommodation and transport there.
In the event of a delay of more than 60 minutes, the railway companies must also offer refreshments and meals free of charge.
How do I get to my destination despite the train strike?
In the past, Deutsche Bahn organized collective trips by taxi or bus and then issues vouchers for them.
If this does not work, passengers can take a taxi themselves, but there are restrictions on the reimbursement of costs.
For example, money is only given back if the scheduled arrival is between midnight and 5 a.m. and the expected delay at the destination station is at least one hour.
In addition, it is usually necessary to check whether the destination station can still be reached by another means of transport by midnight.
List of rubric lists: © Jens Wolf
