ICE break at Cologne: 230 travelers had to wait over 5 hours!

ICE break at Cologne: 230 travelers had to wait over 5 hours!

An unplanned adventure experienced around 230 travelers in an ICE of Deutsche Bahn on Monday morning when the train on its route from Dortmund to Munich near Cologne-Mülheim came to a standstill due to a locomotive damage. The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. after the train had driven against a heavy branch on the rails. As a result, the passengers had to endure over five hours on the defective train, which understandably led to considerable displeasure. The police were called at short notice to clarify the situation on site, such as Radio Erft.

The reasons for the long waiting time were rather unhappy. According to a spokeswoman for the train, the poor accessibility of the ICE was on the main cause of the delay. It was only after about 320 minutes that travelers were allowed to leave the train and were able to recover from the shocking experience.

passenger rights and compensation

such unpleasant incidents also raise the question of passenger rights. Those who are affected by longer delays or even failures are usually entitled to compensation. According to Bahn.de, passengers can reclaim 25 % of the ticket price with a delay of more than 60 minutes, and even 50 % for more than 120 minutes. If you even had to stop your trip, you can also apply for the reimbursement of the ticket in the travel center.

In addition, there are regulations for international trips and special passes such as the German Rail Pass. Similar conditions also apply here: In the event of a delay of 60 minutes, compensation of up to 25 % of the passport price can be claimed. Another important point is that applications for compensation usually have to be submitted within three months of the incident, as described in detail.

inconvenience in the event of delays

The unpleasant circumstances that can arise due to tensile delays or failures should not be underestimated, especially when traveling longer. Passengers should be aware of their rights in order to be well equipped in the event of cases. With a delay of 20 minutes, travelers can flexibly redesign their plans because the train binding is eliminated.

For all those affected, this incident remains to be hoped that such situations will occur less frequently in the future. Until then, it is advisable to inform yourself about passenger rights in order to have the right hand in an emergency and to receive the best possible compensation.