The GDL has another strike at Deutsche Bahn. Passenger traffic has been almost paralyzed since Thursday. What do travelers need to know?
Frankfurt – It goes on. On Monday, GDL boss Claus Weselsky announced at a press conference what everyone had feared. The Deutsche Bahn is hit again with strikes. First the freight traffic, since Thursday (02.09.2021) also the passenger traffic. The labor dispute should last five days, until Tuesday. The fronts between GDL and Bahn are hardened, collective bargaining is stalling, no, they are standing still – like the trains since Thursday.
This means that there is also a big deal for all travelers. Anyone who wanted to travel comfortably by train during a strike period now needs a thick coat. Delays, cancellations – alternatives? Travelers now have several options, including ticket return.
Deutsche Bahn: new strikes – which connections are still running?
Anyone who has booked a trip with Deutsche Bahn during the strike does not have to bury their heads in the sand. Most, but not all, trips will be canceled. Passengers should therefore find out in good time whether their desired connection is not running. According to information provided by Deutsche Bahn, the main routes that are particularly in demand, as well as connections to important train stations and airports, are to be served at regular intervals. In metropolitan regions, at least a basic range of regional and S-Bahn trains will run.
There is also a replacement timetable . This can be found in the DB Navigator app and online in the Deutsche Bahn timetable information. As reported by the German press agency, the live information only shows trains that go to their destination in any case. Passengers can also contact the Deutsche Bahn strike hotline on 08000/99 66 33 or the DB staff on the platform.
Strike: What happens if my train connection fails?
If the train connection fails due to the rail strike, there are two options:
- Long-distance traffic: Deutsche Bahn has announced that customers can use all tickets they have already purchased for the strike period between September 2 and 7, flexibly and without being tied to a train. In other words: higher-quality trains, such as an ICE instead of an IC, can then be used. Accordingly, all journeys beyond the period up to September 17th remain valid. Anyone who has to cancel their train journey will be reimbursed the entire fare.
- Local transport: If there is a delay of at least 20 minutes, travelers can also use long-distance trains at no extra charge, according to the dpa. However, customers still have to buy a valid ticket beforehand, but can have the costs reimbursed by Deutsche Bahn later. Condition: The original route must not be longer than 50 kilometers or last longer than an hour. This rule does not apply to a significantly reduced ticket, for example a national or semester ticket.
GDL rail strike: how do I get my money back?
Trips already booked during the strike period can be canceled free of charge. The reason for the cancellation does not matter. The entire fare will be reimbursed, as the train announced on Monday. This also applies expressly to connections that are available despite a strike.
But how can you return your ticket and claim your money back? So:
- Tickets purchased online or in the app are canceled using a grace form on the DB website.
- Tickets bought at the counter can only be returned there.
If problems arise when returning tickets, the Arbitration Board for Public Transport (SÖP) can help. Their lawyers can use an arbitration request to get their money back free of charge.
Deutsche Bahn strike: How much money is there back in the event of delays?
As the consumer association informed on its website during the last train strike, passengers can get part of the fare or even the entire fare back in the event of delays – depending on the delay. If the delay is at least 60 minutes, customers are entitled to a 25% reimbursement; if the delay is over 120 minutes, it is 50%.
Claims can be asserted using the passenger rights form online, on the train or in a DB office. The same works via the complaint in the customer account on Bahn.de or in the DB Navigator app. On Konsumentzentrale.de it also states that railway companies must offer those affected by delays of more than 60 minutes free refreshments and meals in a reasonable proportion to the waiting time – provided these are available on the train or at the station.
Deutsche Bahn: New Strikes – What Alternatives Do I Have?
If you want to travel during the period of the strike, but also want to be on the safe side, you can fall back on a few alternatives.
- Own car: if you have it, you can. If you have your own car, you can easily travel with it. But: Many travelers are likely to have this idea. So the streets could get uncomfortably full.
- Long-distance bus: bus instead of train. Market leader Flixbus has seen a significant increase in demand as a result of the rail strike. However, this also increases the price. The motto here is to be fast.
- Trains from non- rail companies: Deutsche Bahn also has competitors such as Flixtrain. These do not strike. However, connections can still be influenced by the strike, for example by stopped Deutsche Bahn trains.
- Taxi / Uber: If the distance to the destination is not too great, a taxi or an Uber can also be useful.
- Rental car: If you don’t have your own car, you can also switch to a rental car. But what counts for long-distance buses also applies here: capacities are becoming scarcer and prices are higher.
- Airplane: The opposite of a taxi – in theory. But even here the demand increases during the strike period, the ticket could possibly be more expensive than usual.
(nc / dpa)
