Rail companies are not liable for stolen luggage
from Jürgen Vogl
If an item of luggage is stolen during the train journey, the railroad company is not liable - this was recently decided by the Supreme Court (OGH). This means that you, as a passenger, must always look after your luggage yourself to prevent theft.
But what does this mean in detail, what should you look out for and how does your luggage arrive safely at its destination?
In its decision, the Supreme Court points out that passengers may take portable items into the train carriage as hand luggage, but that these must be deposited in the designated areas. This means that even if you leave your suitcase or travel bag out of 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 safekeeping, regardless of whether the item of luggage is placed in or out of sight of a passenger in a luggage rack.
You can stow your luggage in the compartments above your seat, but also under the seats. In addition, ÖBB-Personenverkehr, WESTbahn and CAT trains offer free luggage compartments in the carriages. It is not permitted to place your luggage anywhere in the carriage and thereby block aisles or doors.
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 railroads' websites:
- ÖBB-Personenverkehr 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. read more...
- The WESTbahn is equipped with a metal strap and a lock. This allows the suitcase or travel bag to be tied to the luggage rack[nbsp] read more...
- 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. read more...
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