My train got cancelled. And now?
A true story + How to save time (and money) in case of train disruptions in Europe
Traveling by train in Europe has always been my favorite choice for medium-distance journeys: Fast, comfortable, and often cheap.
But my life as a passenger wasn’t always smooth.
Industry insiders and frequent travelers know some tricks when things go wrong. For example, some time ago I’ve shared my top hacks when a flight is cancelled.
Here’s what happened last time my international train was cancelled -and what to know if that happens to you, too.
4:00 PM
I’ve just arrived at the train station, my train is departing in half an hour. After grabbing a coffee, I stop to check the platform number.
But there’s bad news waiting for me: My train just got cancelled.
I look for alternatives.
There are no more direct train connections today. Instead, the train app suggests a 7.5-hour train journey with 5 changes arriving late at night.
Sounds adventurous.
The thing is, I’m not feeling adventurous right now.
4:15 PM
In a slightly desperate move, I call my travel insurance.
There’s a dedicated “helpline” and they should be able to help.
At least, that’s what I thought when I signed the contract.
“Hello, my train just got cancelled. What options do I have in these cases?”
“Let me see…. [Silence]. I’m sorry sir, I cannot help you. You should check your insurance policy.”
That’s a 15-page document. How am I supposed to read that on my phone, while standing on the platform?
But there’s no point in arguing.
The clock is ticking and I still need to find a solution to get at destination.
4:35 PM
Time to look for alternatives.
There’s a flight in the evening -but I’ll never make it on time.
The first direct flight tomorrow morning, however, that might work.
So here’s the traveler’s dilemma:
OPTION A: The uncomfortable 7.5-hour journey with 5 changes
orOPTION B: The comfortable 1-hour direct flight
Option A is completely free -but what if I miss just one of the five connections?
Option B is at my own risk: There’s no guarantee I’ll be refunded for the plane ticket. And what if the flight is delayed, too? That would be a double disaster.
It feels like a gamble.
I try my luck and book the flight.
5:00 PM
Once the flight is booked I make my way back home.
Then I suddenly realize: I didn’t cancel my hotel booking for tonight!
It’s non-refundable, but hopefully the hotel will understand and make a exception? I write them a message.
I’ve never heard back from them.
Learnings as a traveler
Now you’re probably wondering: Did I manage to get at destination the next day, and get a compensation?
Yes and yes.
While things are usually smoother, this wasn’t the first time I incurred in a major delay or cancellation.
Here are a few tips if you’re planning to travel by train in Europe:
Most rail companies have an app. Always enable notifications and check for cancellations before going to the train station;
It’s good to have a plan B: Never exclude other transportation methods. If the suggested alternative doesn’t suit you, chances are that train companies will refund (some) of the costs (See next paragraph)
If you travel often, choose a travel insurance with clear conditions. For example, my travel insurance didn’t cover trips shorter than 3 days (basically any weekend trip).
How to increase your chances of a compensation?
I’ve tried asking Google Gemini:
“In case of delays or cancellations, the railway company should offer you alternative transport to reach your destination.”
and also,
“If you experience significant delays or cancellations, you may be entitled to additional services such as accommodation or meals.”
Unfortunately, that doesn’t help when you’re standing on the train platform and need to decide whether to pay 500+ Euros in advance for an extra flight or a hotel night for you and your family.
That’s why it’s important to understand how compensations work before starting a journey.
So, what do you need to know if your international train in Europe was cancelled or impacted by a big delay?
Here’s my experience:
First of all (and perhaps easy to forget in a stressful situation), take pictures and screenshots proving the disruption from the moment you know about it. You’ll need plenty of proof when requesting a compensation.
As a general rule, train companies will refund between 25-50% of the total ticket price in case of delays above 1 hour, and 100% in case of cancellations.
However, compensations for extra costs in case of major disruptions are usually at the discretion of the train company. In my case, this is what I got back:
A One-way Economy Class ticket to arrive at destination ✔
The first hotel night that I couldn’t use at destination ✔
Other smaller expenses (like food and transportation to/from the airport) ❌
Compensation requests can be usually filed via the train company website
Good to know: There’s a difference between the train company operating the train and the one where you bought the ticket. In fact, in my case:
The rail company where I bought my ticket was responsible for refunding it;
The rail company operating the train refunded my hotel night and flight ticket.
Knowing exactly what to do in case of cancellations or delays isn’t easy. But hopefully, my experience will save you some stress, time and money if one day you’ll be impacted by train disruptions. Good luck!
About me
As a passionate traveler and tourism professional I’ve experienced hundreds of journeys, from common to exceptional: From hiking the Andes to flying Business Class, from camping in Serengeti to staying in luxury resorts in Maldives.
In my career I’ve driven brand collaborations, scaled up communities and websites and helped tourism companies tell their story and sell their products worldwide.
On Beating Jetlag I'm wearing the traveler's and tourism insider’s hat to talk about unique traveler journeys and other "juicy" topics in travel & hospitality.