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Reimbursement for extra costs due to train cancellations

  • 28 November 2023
  • 9 replies
  • 192 views
C

As an Interrail traveller, are I entitled to reimbursement of costs if a train is cancelled for a reserved train? On our last Interrail journey, this happened to us twice due to strikes in France and Germany. In France we were not informed in advance and only found out on the train that the train was not travelling to Barcelona but only to Perpignan (the strike was regional only there). To avoid getting stranded in Perpignan in the evening, we took the Flixbus to Barcelona. Afterwards, I applied to SNCF for compensation for the cost of the Flixbus plus the taxi in Barcelona (it was 2am on arrival instead of the planned 9.30pm), but both my electronic and paper mail requests were ignored. As a customer, I find this very unsatisfactory as we paid for the Interrail ticket as well as for the expensive seat reservation on the TGV (36€ per person). It worked better with Deutsche Bahn. The situation was similar, but at least they gave us a voucher for the amount of the extra costs.

As the travel was in April, I do not expect any more any reimbursement. But for my next  Interrail travel, I want to know what are my rights in such a situation and how to get extra costs reimbursed.

 

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Best answer by rvdborgt 28 November 2023, 14:24

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9 replies

ralderton
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Userlevel 7
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You can claim from Interrail here. Include any receipts and explanations of alternative arrangements you had to make.

I may be wrong, but I think anything beyond the basic delay compensation has to get sent to SNCF, who will probably ignore or refuse.

I don’t know if the strike makes any difference to their obligations to get you to Barcelona. It may depend on when the strike was announced (whether or not you personally knew about it.)

https://www.interrail.eu/en/support/delay-compensation

BrendanDB
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Userlevel 7
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SNCF is notoriously late in these things. You haven’t heard anything yet of SNCF?

You can always file a complaint with the SNCF mediator if you deem SNCF’s response unclear: https://mediation.sncf-voyageurs.com/?lang=en

Delay compensation is also possible at interrail (but isn’t that much) https://www.interrail.eu/en/support/delay-compensation

 

R
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +9

Operators are required to offer an alternative option at no extra costs if you still want to travel. If they refuse (or haven't offered anything within 100 minutes after you stranded), then you're entitled to be reimbursed reasonable extra costs you had.

As to where to claim: on top of compensation for delay, you can claim through Interrail "unavoidable costs incurred in order to reach the original destination”.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
C

Thanks for the replies which all have valuable information for me.

I got soon after the travel in contact with Interrail via the delay compensation form. We got imbursement for the delays, but my request for the extra costs was ignored. In a second attempt they told me to get in contact with SNCF. So I did, but my two attempts we ignored. That is some months ago, so I don’t expect a response any more. The SNCF mediation page is new for me. May be that is the way to go. Also at my case with Deutsche Bahn, I only had success when using the mediation in Germany.

@rvdborgt: we had seat reservations from Valence TGV to Barcelona. When we got on the train in Valence, the SNCF personal told us that we will get help at the station of Perpignon. Arriving at Perpignan, there were really not a single SNCF person to ask because they all were on strike. Even the beverage vending machines and the toilets were out of order. Therefore, no alternative option was given to us.

C

I just tried to fill in the form of the SNCF mediator. After explaing in detail my case, I had to give my contact data including a phone number. Whatever I filled in on that field of the phone number, it was not accepted. It said: “Your entry does not match the allowed pattern.“  Unfortunately, they do not explain what is the allowed pattern. Is there something special with phone number formatting in France which I do not know?

T
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +5

Try 0049 or +49 before the rest of your number.

C

I tried everything what me occurred including 0049 or only 49 or +49 or ++49. I tried with blanks and without blanks, … Nothing worked.

ralderton
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +4

If all else fails, just make up a number in the French format. A 10 digit number starting with 07

R
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +9

If all else fails, just make up a number in the French format. A 10 digit number starting with 07

Or 06. And then mention your real phone number in the message.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.

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