Station Closure in Salzburg: What Are the Rights of Those Affected?

An incident recently occurred at Salzburg Central Station that significantly disrupted rail traffic for about an hour and a half: a chemical leaked from a freight car. As a result, individual tracks had to be evacuated at first, and later the entire station. Train service was suspended, and trains waited for the closure to be lifted before operations could resume around 7 p.m. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the incident still had a noticeable impact on numerous travelers.

Rights remain in effect even in the event of extraordinary circumstances

Even if the cause—such as a hazardous material spill in this case—is beyond the railway company’s direct control, key passenger rights remain in effect. The decisive factor is, above all, the (expected) delay at the destination.

Delays of 60 minutes or more: Options for travelers

If it appears that the arrival will be delayed by at least 60 minutes, passengers generally have three options:

Cancellation of the Trip: Passengers may choose not to continue the journey and will receive a full or partial refund of the fare. If the trip has become pointless according to the passenger’s original travel plans, the fare for the portion of the journey already completed will also be refunded.

Continuing the journey at the next opportunity: The journey must be continued at no additional cost—including via alternative routes or with other providers (after consulting with the railway company).

Postponement of the trip: The trip may be rescheduled for a later date under comparable conditions, in which case the ticket’s validity will be adjusted accordingly. Unless the company has a standard policy in place, the apf recommends contacting the company before using a ticket that is no longer valid.

These rules also apply in the event of train cancellations, missed connections, or—as in this case—the complete evacuation of a train station.

Compensation for Delays and Assistance Services

If passengers decide to continue their journey, they are entitled to financial compensation:

For delays of 60 minutes or more: 25% of the single-trip ticket price

For delays of 120 minutes or more: 50% of the single-trip ticket price

The actual delay at the destination listed on the ticket is always the determining factor.

Compensation for delays may be denied for certain reasons (e.g., extreme weather conditions, the conduct of a third party). Based on the information available, the apf does not consider this to be such a reason.

In the event of long wait times, rail companies are required to provide assistance.

Meals and refreshments should be provided for delays of 60 minutes or more, subject to availability.

If a stay of one or more nights is necessary—for example, because the journey cannot be continued on the same day—passengers are entitled to accommodation (hotel) and, if necessary, transportation to the hotel (e.g., taxi). Since the closure of the Salzburg train station was lifted at 7:00 p.m., it is likely that few claims of this nature have arisen.

If no alternative transportation is offered within 100 minutes of the scheduled departure time of the delayed or canceled train, passengers may arrange their own onward travel—for example, using trains or buses operated by other companies—and submit their expenses for reimbursement. It is important to keep receipts and, if possible, consult with the railway company in advance.

Holders of season tickets (e.g., Klimaticket) do not receive individual compensation for each delay. Instead, flat-rate rules apply, which are based on overall punctuality.