What to do after a long rail delay

After a serious rail delay or cancellation, keep the ticket, operator notices, actual arrival time and receipts. Ask the railway company for the available refund, rerouting and assistance options before buying a replacement.

Confirm the ticket and journey

Check whether the trip was sold as a through-ticket. Separate tickets can change missed-connection protection. EU rail rules generally apply to rail journeys in the EU, but countries may exempt some urban, regional, domestic or tourist services.

For a cancellation or expected arrival delay of more than 60 minutes, official EU guidance describes choices that can include refund or rerouting. Assistance and compensation depend on the circumstances and timing.

Record what happened

Save:

• the original ticket and reservation
• scheduled and actual times
• cancellation or delay messages
• the operator's rerouting offer
• meal, hotel and replacement-transport receipts

Ask staff to confirm the disruption when practical. If you arrange replacement transport, keep evidence showing why it was necessary and reasonable.

Use the operator complaint route

Send the claim to the railway company first. State the journey, ticket number, disruption, requested remedy and attached evidence. Keep a copy and the submission date.

The Passenger Rights Checker gives a cautious first scope check and links to official guidance. It does not decide compensation. If the operator does not resolve the issue, the official EU page explains national enforcement and other complaint paths.