Rail: fare compensation for delays with a one-way ticket
from Jürgen Vogl
One-way tickets are always valid for specific transportation between the departure and destination stations for a single journey. In Austria, only delays on long-distance trains are compensated for this type of ticket. The type of train indicates whether it is a regional or long-distance train. Long-distance trains include railjet (rj), Intercity-Express (ICE), WESTbahn (WB) or EuroNight (EN). It is also important that there is a continuous contract of carriage for the transportation service or that the tickets indicate a continuous travel chain (e.g. if the tickets were purchased at the same time or if reservations have been made). Even if a connecting train is missed or a train is (partially) canceled, there is a right to compensation for one-way tickets; this right also applies if trains of different railroad companies are used but with a single contract of carriage. If a train ticket is only valid for a specific (connecting) train, the passenger has the right to have the train reservation canceled if this train is missed so that any other trains can also be used.
When using one-way tickets on long-distance trains, passengers are entitled to compensation amounting to 25 percent of the ticket price if they arrive at their destination station more than 60 minutes late. In the event of a delay of more than 120 minutes, the passenger is entitled to 50% of the one-way ticket price.
Delays beyond this are not taken into account separately, so you receive the same compensation for a delay of four hours as for a delay of two hours. The company that sold the ticket is always responsible for paying the delay compensation. Since February 2016, compensation has been available for all parts of the transportation service, i.e. in addition to the ticket for the passenger, also for tickets for vehicles, checked baggage or bicycles.
In the next two[nbsp]weeks, read about your rights in the event of train delays with a weekly or monthly ticket and with an annual ticket. Further information on your rights in rail transport can be found on the apf homepage at www.apf.gv.at - click here to be forwarded directly.