Hurricane situation in Germany: train cancellations are threatened by storms - you have these rights as a passenger

Created: 02/16/2022, 17:27

Storm and hurricane are the bosses in train traffic.

What does it mean for passengers if their train is cancelled?

(icon image).

© Jan Huebner / Imago

A dangerous double hurricane is heading for Germany.

The weather conditions could also lead to nationwide train cancellations.

Düsseldorf – The DWD warns of violent storms coming to large parts of Germany.

Train travelers could also be affected.

If strong winds or other exceptional weather conditions thwart the plans of train passengers, they enjoy these passenger rights.

In the event of delays, long-distance and local rail companies are then generally obliged to compensate - unlike airlines, which can invoke force majeure.

This is laid down in European guidelines on passenger rights, says Beatrix Kaschel from the local transport arbitration board of the NRW consumer advice center.

In view of exceptional weather conditions, Deutsche Bahn often grants additional goodwill - even in the case of the current storm "Xandra".

If passengers have planned their long-distance journey for Thursday (February 17, 2022) or Friday (February 18, 2022), they can use their booked ticket flexibly from Wednesday (February 16, 2022) up to and including seven days after the end of the disruption or cancel it free of charge.

You can therefore start the train journey earlier, and any train or day commitments are also lifted. 

Storm in Germany: Zug canceled due to hurricane – the goodwill arrangement does not apply here

According to Deutsche Bahn, seat reservations can also be canceled free of charge.

In order to have tickets booked online canceled, rail customers use a goodwill form.

You can cancel “flex price” tickets booked online with a day commitment yourself via your customer account.

The goodwill arrangement of Deutsche Bahn does not apply to the city function of tickets.

In addition, the general passenger rights apply in the event of a delay or train cancellation: If there is a risk of a delay of at least 20 minutes at the destination, the passenger can switch to a faster connection - if there is one.

If he changes from local transport to a more expensive connection, for example long-distance transport, such as an ICE, he must advance the surcharge, but can have it reimbursed later.

Exceptions apply to heavily discounted tickets such as the "Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket", the "Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket" or "LänderTickets", for which this regulation does not apply according to Deutsche Bahn.

It is fundamentally important to distinguish between expected and actual delays at the destination station.

This is because the amount of compensation is based on passenger rights.

If it is expected in advance that the train will be 60 minutes or more late or has to be canceled altogether, the passenger can have both the ticket price paid and the reservation costs reimbursed in full.

If the trip is interrupted, the costs will only be reimbursed pro rata

If the passenger is already on the move and there is a risk of an hour or more delay at the destination station, the customer has a choice: If the journey has become pointless, he can return to the starting station and have the ticket refunded in full.

However, if he decides to break off his journey en route, only the proportionate fare to the last station on the way is returned.

If the train customer is delayed and reaches the destination station, the train will reimburse the fare on a graduated basis.

Train passengers can expect a compensation of 25 percent of the fare paid for delays of 60 minutes or more at the destination station, and 50 percent for delays of 120 minutes or more.

It is important to know that if the customer has bought a return ticket, the compensation will only be calculated for the one-way journey, i.e. on the basis of half the fare.

And: Individual compensation amounts of less than four euros are not paid out at all.

However, you can also submit several delays together - which is particularly interesting for holders of local transport time tickets. 

Storm situation could affect rail traffic: New legal situation from 2023 - passenger rights will be restricted

In view of the predicted storm situation in the Federal Republic, Deutsche Bahn has taken precautions to be able to react quickly in an emergency.

“Deutsche Bahn is monitoring current weather developments and preparing for them.

Employees and emergency vehicles are put on standby so that any storm damage can be repaired quickly, ”reported a press spokeswoman for Deutsche Bahn when asked by

In order to get your money after train cancellations and delays, forms have to be filled out.

You can get the corresponding form for compensation by post in Deutsche Bahn travel centers or from the service staff on the train, where you can have the delay of more than 60 minutes confirmed in writing in the appropriate field.

If the ticket was purchased online via the Deutsche Bahn customer account, customers can alternatively also submit the application online.

However, a different legal situation will take effect from next year.

"From 2023, passenger rights will no longer apply in the event of force majeure," says Beatrix Kaschel from the local transport arbitration board: the railway companies would then be released from their obligation to compensate for delays or train cancellations "due to extraordinary circumstances such as extreme weather conditions or major natural disasters".

The minimum compensation for delays, which affects the 25 and 50 percent regulations mentioned, remains unchanged.

The storm threatens to become chaotic in large parts of Germany.

In Hamburg there should be a storm surge *.