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ICE breakdown near Cologne: 230 travelers had to wait over 5 hours!
On June 10, 2025, 230 passengers were stranded for five hours due to damage to an ICE locomotive near Cologne-Mülheim. Inconveniences and compensation options explained.
ICE breakdown near Cologne: 230 travelers had to wait over 5 hours!
Around 230 travelers in a Deutsche Bahn ICE experienced an unplanned adventure on Monday morning when the train came to a standstill near Cologne-Mülheim on its route from Dortmund to Munich due to locomotive damage. The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. after the train hit a heavy branch on the tracks. As a result, the passengers had to sit in the defective train for over five hours, which understandably led to considerable dissatisfaction. The police were called at short notice to clarify the situation on site, as Radio Erft reports.
The reasons for the long waiting time were rather unfortunate. According to a spokeswoman for the railway, the main cause of the delay was the poor accessibility of the ICE in the area. It was only after around 320 minutes that the passengers were allowed to leave the train and recover from the shocking experience.
Passenger rights and compensation
Such unpleasant incidents also raise the question of passenger rights. Anyone affected by longer delays or even cancellations is usually entitled to compensation. According to bahn.de, passengers can claim 25% of the ticket price back if the delay is more than 60 minutes, and even 50% if the delay is more than 120 minutes. If you had to cancel your trip, you can also apply for a refund of your ticket at the travel center.
There are also regulations for international travel and special passes such as the German Rail Pass. Similar conditions apply here too: in the event of a delay of 60 minutes or more, compensation of up to 25% of the pass price can be claimed. Another important point is that applications for compensation must usually be submitted within three months of the incident, as Trip.com describes in detail.
Inconvenience of delays
The unpleasant circumstances that can arise due to train delays or cancellations should not be underestimated, especially on longer journeys. Passengers should be aware of their rights so that they are well prepared if the worst comes to the worst. If there is a delay of 20 minutes, travelers can flexibly rearrange their plans because they are no longer connected to the train.
It is to be hoped that all those affected by this incident will see such situations occur less frequently in the future. Until then, it is advisable to be well informed about passenger rights in order to have the right hand in an emergency and to receive the best possible compensation.