Train delayed? Your compensation rights in Europe

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 5 min read

If your train is delayed in the European Union, you generally have a legal right to compensation once the delay passes a set threshold — typically starting at 60 minutes, with the percentage of your fare refunded increasing for longer delays. The rules come from EU rail passenger rights regulation, apply across borders as well as within a single country, and are one of the more traveller-friendly protections in European transport, though claiming it does require you to actually submit a form.

The basic thresholds

Under the EU's rail passenger rights framework, passengers delayed on a journey are typically entitled to compensation on a sliding scale roughly along these lines:

• 60–119 minutes delayed: around 25% of the ticket price.
• 120 minutes or more delayed: around 50% of the ticket price.

Exact percentages and minimum claimable amounts can vary slightly by operator and have been subject to periodic regulatory updates, so treat these as the general shape of the rule rather than a guaranteed figure — always check the current scheme via the operator or the European Commission before assuming an exact percentage.

What counts as "the journey" for delay purposes

If your ticket covers a connecting journey booked as a single itinerary, the delay is generally measured against your final, overall arrival time at your ultimate destination — not just the leg that was late. This matters if a delay on an earlier leg causes a missed connection, since the resulting lateness at your final destination is usually what counts toward the compensation threshold, not the length of the original delay in isolation.

How to actually claim

1. Keep your ticket — physical or digital, you'll need proof of the journey and fare paid.
2. Note the delay — many operators' apps and station departure boards record actual arrival times, but it's worth noting it yourself too.
3. Find the operator's delay compensation form, usually on their website under a name like "delay repay" or "passenger rights" — most major European operators (SNCF, Deutsche Bahn, Trenitalia, Renfe, national UK operators) have a dedicated online claims process.
4. Submit within the claim window — this varies by operator, often somewhere between one and several months after travel, so don't leave it too long.
5. Expect payment as cash, bank transfer or travel vouchers, depending on the operator and what you select — vouchers are sometimes offered at a slightly higher value as an incentive to accept them instead of cash.

Exceptions and limitations

Compensation schemes generally exclude delays caused by circumstances outside the railway's control in the strictest sense — though in practice, EU rail rules are notably more generous to passengers than, say, airline rules, and cover many delays that airlines would classify as "extraordinary circumstances." Even weather-related or infrastructure-related delays are often still compensable on rail, unlike the stricter carve-outs common in air passenger rights. Always check the specific circumstances against the operator's current published policy, since rules and interpretations can change.

Does this apply to all trains?

EU rail passenger rights cover most domestic and international rail journeys within the EU, though some member states have historically applied certain exemptions to purely domestic or short-distance regional and urban services. Coverage and exact rules have evolved over time, including EU-wide updates strengthening protections, so it's worth checking current applicability for regional or narrowly local trips rather than assuming blanket coverage. Cross-border international journeys — the kind covered throughout this site — are generally well within scope.

Non-EU countries

The UK operates its own separate "Delay Repay" style scheme with broadly similar thresholds (often starting even lower, at 15–30 minutes depending on the operator), administered by individual train operating companies rather than under EU law post-Brexit — see our Britain by train guide for more on how UK operators handle passenger rights generally. Switzerland and other non-EU European countries have their own consumer protection frameworks, which may differ from the EU scheme — always check the specific country's rules if travelling outside the EU, for instance on a Switzerland by train trip.

Delays on high-speed and cross-border services

Compensation claims are most commonly associated with the long-distance and high-speed international services that carry most leisure travellers — trains like the Eurostar, TGV or Frecciarossa — simply because these are the journeys where a delay is most likely to also cause a knock-on missed connection or a disrupted onward plan. Regional and short-hop domestic trains are covered too, but the compensation amounts are naturally smaller given lower ticket prices.

Practical tips

• Claim even for shorter delays if you're close to the threshold — some operators round generously, and it costs nothing to submit a claim.
• Don't assume the operator will proactively refund you — in most cases, you need to actively submit a claim rather than waiting for automatic compensation, though a few operators are moving toward automatic repayment for registered ticket holders.
• Keep evidence of connected itineraries if a delay caused a missed connection and further lateness, since this affects your total delay calculation.
• Compensation is separate from any rebooking you receive — being placed on a later train doesn't cancel your right to claim for the original delay.

How this compares with flight delay compensation

Rail passenger rights in the EU are broadly modelled on the same principle as EU air passenger rights (commonly known by its regulation number for flights), but rail's thresholds tend to trigger compensation sooner and exclude fewer circumstances than the equivalent air rules. If you're weighing up train versus flying for a route and delay risk is a factor, this is worth knowing — rail compensation tends to be a more reliable safety net than the airline equivalent.

Frequently asked questions

How late does my train need to be for compensation?

Under the EU framework, compensation typically starts at 60 minutes, rising at 120 minutes. The UK and other non-EU countries have their own separate schemes with different thresholds, sometimes starting even lower.

Do I need to do anything at the station to claim later?

Not usually beyond keeping your ticket. The claim itself is normally submitted online afterwards via the operator's compensation form.

Is compensation automatic?

Generally no — most operators require you to actively submit a claim, though some are moving toward automatic repayment for passengers with a registered account or contactless ticket.

Does a missed connection count toward my delay time?

If it was part of a single booked itinerary, yes — the compensation is usually based on your total lateness arriving at your final destination, including any knock-on delay from a missed connection.