Your questions answered.

Am I entitled to money back if my train was late?

Yes, if your train arrived at your final stop 60 minutes or more late and your journey was in the EU. You get 25% of your ticket price for 60–119 minutes, and 50% for 120 minutes or more. The delay is measured at your final destination — not at an intermediate stop.

What counts as a 60-minute delay?

Your actual arrival time versus the scheduled arrival time at your final ticketed destination. 59 minutes late: no claim. 60 minutes late: claim. If you were put on a replacement or rerouted service, the comparison is still against the original scheduled time.

Can I claim for a cancelled train?

Yes. If the train was cancelled and you didn't travel, you can get a full refund. If the cancellation meant you arrived 60 minutes or more late on an alternative service, you may also be entitled to delay compensation. If the replacement got you there within 60 minutes of the original time, the delay threshold isn't met.

Does it matter which country I was travelling in?

EU Regulation 2021/782 covers all trains in Germany — Deutsche Bahn ICE/IC/EC, DB Regio, Flixtrain, S-Bahn services, and regional operators like Go-Ahead Bayern, Metronom, and ODEG. When you enter your journey, we confirm eligibility automatically.

What if my ticket covered several trains?

If you had a single through-ticket, the delay is measured at your final destination for the whole journey. If the total delay is 60 minutes or more, you can claim. The operator who issued your ticket is responsible — even if the delay happened on a leg run by a different company. If you had separate tickets for each leg, each leg is assessed on its own.

How much will I get?

25% of what you paid if your train was 60–119 minutes late. 50% if it was 2 hours or more late. This is based on the fare you actually paid — not the full price if you used a BahnCard discount or sale fare.

I have a season ticket. Can I claim?

Yes. Your season ticket has a daily value — the monthly cost divided by the number of days. Compensation is calculated as a percentage of that daily rate. We handle the maths.

Is there a minimum amount?

EU law doesn't set a cash minimum, but some operators won't pay out less than €4 or €5 in cash — they may offer a travel voucher instead for very small amounts. We'll tell you before you commit if the amount is very small.

I didn't pay for the ticket myself. Can I still claim?

Compensation is calculated on the price paid. If your employer paid, the right to claim may belong to them. If you used loyalty points and the ticket had a stated monetary value, you may be able to claim that value — though some operators dispute this.

Can I claim if the delay was caused by bad weather?

It depends how severe. Mild or seasonal bad weather doesn't let the operator off the hook. A once-in-a-decade storm might. Operators often use weather as an excuse for delays that were actually within their control or made worse by poor planning. We review each case and challenge weather-based rejections where we think we can win.

Can I claim if there was a strike?

Yes, usually. Strikes by the train company's own staff don't count as an emergency under EU rail law — unlike in aviation. You can normally still claim. Strikes by third parties (for example, port workers blocking a line) are more complex. We review these case by case.

What excuses are actually valid?

Very few. Rare natural disasters, serious security threats to the rail network, or significant third-party incidents outside the operator's control. The bar is high. Congestion, signal failures the operator is responsible for, train faults, driver shortages — none of these count.

What if the operator claims it was an emergency?

We push back. Operators routinely claim emergencies for delays that don't meet the legal standard. National rail regulators often side with passengers on this. We know the arguments and we use them.

How long do I have to submit a claim?

In Germany, you have 90 days from the date of travel. Deutsche Bahn deletes journey records after 90 days, so late claims are extremely difficult. Submit as soon as you can — the sooner you do it, the less you have to remember.

How long until I get paid?

The operator must reply within a month and pay within a month of saying yes. In practice, most simple claims through TrainOwed settle in 6–10 weeks. Operators who routinely reject first attempts take longer once appeals are included. We track the legal deadlines and escalate if they're dragging it out.

What if the operator rejects my claim?

We appeal. Rejection is common — especially from the bigger operators. We look at their reasoning, write a formal response, and resubmit. If that also fails, we take it to the rail regulator, which can compel the operator to pay. You pay nothing at any stage.

What documents do I need?

Proof you had a ticket and evidence of the delay. A booking confirmation or e-ticket is enough for most operators. If you've lost your ticket, a bank statement or screenshot of the booking may work. We'll tell you exactly what you need for your specific operator.

How does TrainOwed make money?

We take 25% of whatever we recover for you. If the claim fails, you pay nothing. That's it — no sign-up fee, no admin charge, no hidden costs. We only get paid when you do.

Is TrainOwed legitimate?

Yes. TrainOwed is a claims service operating under EU consumer protection law. We run the same model as our sister service FlightOwed, which has handled thousands of flight compensation claims across Europe. We're upfront about our fees and honest about what we can and can't achieve.

Which operators do you cover?

All major German train operators — Deutsche Bahn (ICE, IC, EC, RE, RB), Flixtrain, DB Regio, S-Bahn Berlin/Frankfurt/Hamburg/München, Go-Ahead Bayern, Metronom, National Express NRW, ODEG, and BRB. When you enter your journey, we confirm coverage in real time.