How to get my money back if my train is delayed?

Written by Sophie Renassia

Published on October 22, 2024, modified on April 13, 2026

Ah, trains and delays... As we all know, even when you love rail travel, delays can be (extremely) frustrating. But the good news is that, with the right reflexes, you can get compensation on the price of your ticket in the form of a voucher or bank transfer! What are your rights? How do you get compensation for delays? Here's everything you need to know to get your money back (and turn this little inconvenience into good news for your wallet).

What does European legislation say?

What are the minimum thresholds that airlines must respect?

In Europe, passengers benefit from specific rail transport protections. In the event of a significant delay, train companies are obliged to offer you minimum compensation. These thresholds may vary from one country to another, but here is a common basis:

• Delay of 60 minutes to 2 hours on arrival: 25% of the ticket price,
• Delay of more than 2 hours on arrival: 50% of the ticket price.

In addition to compensation, the railway company is obliged to provide you with free assistance in the event of delays of more than 60 minutes or train cancellations, wherever possible. This assistance may include meals and refreshments, accommodation and transport between the station and your place of accommodation if a one- to three-night stay becomes necessary, and a means of informing your loved ones of the delay if necessary.

When am I NOT entitled to compensation?

Please note that you will not receive any compensation if :

• you were informed of the delay BEFORE you bought your ticket,
• the delay is less than one hour (varies by country - less than 30 minutes in France)
• the delay is due to “extraordinary circumstances”, such as extreme weather conditions, major natural disasters, a major public health crisis, the presence of people on the tracks, cable theft, on-board emergencies, law enforcement activities, sabotage or terrorism.

What precautions should I take to obtain a refund?

Whatever happens, make sure you keep your ticket (electronic or paper) and any proof of the delay.

If your train is cancelled and you have to wait several hours, remember to take screenshots of the announcements or notifications you received on your phone. A paper trail can make all the difference in facilitating your refund.

And don't forget to write down your reservation number so you can fill in the claim form! The next step is very simple: just go to the company's website and look for the section dedicated to complaints or train delays.

You'll then be asked to fill in a claim form, giving your booking number, the date of travel and the delay on arrival.

Please note that if you bought your ticket via a travel agency, you may need to go through their service to obtain a refund.

And as a little tip, you should know that some loyalty cards or special offers entitle you to benefits in the event of a delay, such as discounts or extra services. Don't hesitate to take a look at the SNCF offers to find out more!

France: what is SNCF's refund policy?

TGV Inoui (in France and abroad) and INTERCITÉS

To obtain a voucher (between 30 minutes and 1 hour of delay) or a bank transfer (between 1 hour and 3 hours of delay), the conditions are as follows:

© SNCF Connect

Procedure and conditions: to make your claim, simply go to Help on the SNCF Connect website, Claims section within 60 days of the date of travel, then fill in the form (with your reservation number).

TGV Ouigo or Ouigo train classique

If your Ouigo is late, you can obtain the following compensation:

• Delay between 1 hour and 1h59: 25% of the ticket price,
• Delay of more than 2 hours: 50% of the ticket price.

Procedure and conditions: reimbursement is made automatically within 15 days in the form of a voucher (more information on this page). However, if your journey includes an INOUI or INTERCITES route, you need to go to this form.

TER

For TER trains, over and above the minimum thresholds imposed by European regulations, compensation rules vary from region to region.

Procedure and conditions: all you have to do is submit your request to customer service via the “Service & Contacts” section of the relevant region's website (which you can find on this page). And if you have a TGV INOUI connection, you can use the TGV INOUI & INTERCITÉS claim form for your entire journey.

Switzerland: what is TGV Lyria's refund policy?

For your TGV Lyria journeys, you can apply for compensation online if your train is delayed by 30 minutes or more.

If you bought your ticket through an SNCF sales channel:

• Delay between 30 minutes and 1 hour: 25% of the ticket price in SNCF travel vouchers only,
• Delay between 1 hour and 2 hours: 25% of the ticket price in SNCF travel vouchers or by bank transfer,
• Delay of more than 2 hours: 50% of the ticket price in SNCF travel vouchers or by bank transfer.

Procedure and conditions: you have 90 days (after the date of your journey) to request your compensation online via the Tout OUI virtual assistant or send your request by post using the dedicated form.

If you bought your ticket through a SBB sales channel:

• Delay between 30 minutes and 2 hours: 25% of the ticket price via IBAN (or credit card if you don't have a Swiss bank account),
• More than 2 hours late: 50% of the ticket price via IBAN (or credit card if you don't have a Swiss bank account).

Procedure and conditions: simply apply for compensation online using the SBB Delay Compensation form. Find out more on the dedicated page of the TGV Lyria website.

Belgium, Germany and the UK: what is Eurostar's refund policy?

For your Eurostar journeys, you can apply online for compensation if your train is delayed by 60 minutes or more.

• Delay between 60 and 119 minutes: 30% of the ticket price in Eurostar e-voucher, or a refund of 25% of the ticket price,
• Delay between 120 and 179 minutes: 60% of the ticket price in Eurostar e-voucher, or reimbursement of 50% of the ticket price,
• Delay of more than 180 minutes: 75% of the ticket price in Eurostar e-voucher, or reimbursement of 50% of the ticket price.

Procedure and conditions: you must wait 24 hours from the date of your delay before making your claim. You then have 3 months to submit your claim. Find out more on the dedicated page of the Eurostar website.

Italy: what is Trenitalia's refund policy?

For your journeys with Trenitalia, you can obtain compensation for delays of 30 minutes or more:

• Delay between 30 and 59 minutes: 25% of the ticket price in vouchers,
• Delay between 60 and 119 minutes: reimbursement of 25% of the ticket price,
• Delay of more than 2 hours: reimbursement of 50% of the ticket price.

Procedure and conditions: all you have to do is fill in the dedicated form no later than 12 months after the date of travel. You'll receive a reply within 30 days of receipt of your request. Find out more on the Trenitalia dedicated page.

Spain: what is Renfe's refund policy?

For your Renfe journeys, you can claim a refund if your train is delayed by at least 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the type of itinerary:

Spanish domestic itinerary :

• Delay of 60 minutes or more: 50% of the ticket price,
• Delay of 90 minutes or more: 100% of the ticket price.

French domestic itinerary :

• Delay of 30 to 119 minutes: 25% of the ticket price,
• Delay from 120 to 179 minutes: 50% of the ticket price,
• Delay of more than 180 minutes: 75% of the ticket price.

International route between Spain and France:

• Delay of more than 30 minutes: 25% of the ticket price,
• Delay of more than 120 minutes: 50% of the ticket price.

Procedure and conditions: you can claim compensation 24 hours after the train's arrival, and you have a maximum of 3 months from the date of travel to make your claim. You can find all the information and forms on the Renfe dedicated page.

What is the refund policy in other European countries?

For other European countries, all you need to do is go directly to the company's website. As a reminder, we've written an article to help you find out where to book depending on the country, where you'll find all the sites you need to consult!

Written by Sophie Renassia

Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).

Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.

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