Rail: No compensation for luggage theft
from Jürgen Vogl
The Supreme Court (OGH) has ruled that the railroad company is not liable if an item of luggage is stolen during the train journey. Passengers must always look after their luggage themselves to prevent theft.
In its decision, the Supreme Court points out that passengers are allowed to take portable items into the train carriage as hand luggage, but that these must be deposited in the designated places (over the seats, luggage compartments in the carriages, etc.). This means that even if you leave your suitcase or travel bag out of your sight or are asked by the train attendant to leave it there, you must take care of it yourself. The railroad does not assume any duty of care, regardless of whether the item of luggage is placed on a luggage rack in or out of sight of a passenger.
Recommendations from apf to passengers:
If you do not want to look after your luggage for the entire train journey to ensure that it arrives safely, there are various options. The prices and exact conditions can be found on the respective railroad company's homepage:[nbsp]
- ÖBB-PV offers you the collection and delivery of your luggage. In this case, your luggage will be collected from your home and delivered to your desired destination.
- On the WESTbahn, securing is provided with a metal strap and a lock. This allows the suitcase or travel bag to be tied to the luggage rack.
- With CAT, it is possible to hand in your baggage on or before boarding the train so that it can be transported in a locked baggage compartment.