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EU train delays: 25% back at 1 hour, 50% at 2 — strikes are NOT exempt

The answer: under Regulation (EU) 2021/782 on rail passengers' rights and obligations (recast) (applicable since 7 June 2023), an arrival delay of 60–119 minutes refunds 25% of your fare and 120+ minutes refunds 50% — paid in money on request, within a month. The carrier's own staff strikes and infrastructure failures are explicitly NOT exempt (Art. 19(10)); only extreme weather, major natural disasters, major public-health crises, third-party fault, or your own fault get the carrier off.

Amounts (Art. 19)

Arrival delayCompensationBasis
60–119 min25% of the fare for the delayed legArt. 19(1)(a) — 25% of the ticket price for 60–119 min arrival delay
120–∞ min50% of the fare for the delayed legArt. 19(1)(b) — 50% of the ticket price for 120+ min

Percentage of the price actually paid FOR THE DELAYED SERVICE/LEG. Return tickets: computed on the delayed leg's price, or half the return price if legs are not itemised (Art. 19(3)). Art. 19(8) — the undertaking MAY set a minimum threshold not exceeding EUR 4 (permissive, not automatic).

The 100-minute rule most passengers don't know

Art. 18 — at an expected 60+ min delay: choice of full refund (plus return to origin), immediate re-routing, or re-routing at a later date. If the options are not communicated within 100 MINUTES of scheduled departure, you may self-arrange alternative transport and claim the reasonable cost. Refunds within 30 days.

Assistance regardless

Art. 20 — at 60+ min: free meals/refreshments (proportionate to waiting time); hotel + transfer where an overnight stay is necessary (may be capped at 3 nights when the cause is an Art. 19(10) circumstance).

[GAP — no consolidated source] Several Member States exempt regional/domestic services under Art. 2; no official consolidated derogation list exists. Cross-border intra-EU and long-distance services are covered everywhere; for a regional domestic service, check the national exemption before relying on Art. 19. Escalation: National Enforcement Body of the Member State (Art. 31), after complaining to the railway undertaking (Art. 28 — reply within 1 month, final within 3).

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Generated 2026-07-07 by TransitPulse (The Aslan Group LLC) from the same source-cited legal reference data our paid engine uses. Informational, not legal advice — rules change; verify with the cited instruments. Contact: info@theaslangroupllc.com