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Nuremberg Central Station (on January 12th)
Photo: Daniel Karmann / dpa
When and where will there be a rail strike?
For the fourth time in three months, the train drivers' union GDL has called on its members to go on strike.
Rail customers have to prepare for six days of “massive disruption” in long-distance, regional and S-Bahn traffic, as Deutsche Bahn (DB) announced.
In personnel traffic, the strike begins on Wednesday night at 2 a.m. and is scheduled to last until Monday next week, January 29th, at 6 p.m.
There will be a strike in freight traffic from Tuesday evening at 6 p.m.
Where can rail travelers get information about their train?
The railway creates an emergency timetable.
However, this only ensures “a very limited train offering in DB’s long-distance, regional and S-Bahn services.
We ask our passengers to find out about their connection 24 hours before departure.
When traveling on long-distance trains, we always recommend reserving a seat," says the DB on its information website about the strike.
You can see whether a long-distance or regional train is running or not using the train app or the train website.
A strike hotline has been set up for individual information (08000 99 66 33).
What goodwill rules does Deutsche Bahn have?
On its website about the GDL strike, the railway asks passengers to avoid non-essential train journeys during the warning strike or to postpone their journeys.
Tickets for trips during the strike period could also be used at a later date.
The train connection at saver prices has been lifted.
The ticket is valid for the journey to the original destination, even with a changed route.
Seat reservations can be canceled free of charge.
Passengers would have the opportunity to bring their trip forward and travel on Monday, January 22nd and Tuesday, January 23rd
However, the city function is not covered by the goodwill.
On the new travel day, a public transport ticket must be purchased locally.
The following applies to regional transport: If you have a ticket for RE, RB, IRE and S-Bahn, but have to use long-distance trains such as IC/EC or ICE, you must first pay the additional ticket required.
The costs will be reimbursed later.
This does not apply to significantly discounted tickets such as the Germany ticket or country tickets.
Further goodwill rules, for example for international tickets, can be found on the railway website.
What rights do passengers have in the event of cancellations and delays?
In the event of cancellations and delays, the statutory passenger rights apply.
If the train is not running or if it is likely to arrive at the destination at least 60 minutes late, you can request a refund of the ticket price.
This option also exists for a strike.
If the train arrives at its destination more than an hour late, you can request a refund of 25 percent of the fare; if it is more than two hours late, it is 50 percent.
more on the subject
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Collective bargaining conflict at the railway: Wissing has “zero understanding” for another train driver strike
Tariff dispute: Deutsche Bahn presents a new offer to the train drivers' union
Railway strike: Claus Weselsky's last fight by Serafin Reiber
Important: If there is a risk of a missed flight due to a train cancellation, the railway is not liable for possible subsequent costs.
According to the Baden-Württemberg consumer advice center, there is a back door for travelers who have booked so-called “Rail&Fly” tickets through the airline.
Then the trip to the airport is part of the flight booking and the airline has to provide alternative transport.
For tickets purchased online via a customer account, passengers can request a refund using an online application or via the DB Navigator app.
Otherwise the only option is to request a refund of the costs in writing.
To do this, you have to fill out the passenger rights form - under the item "Information about your trip" you then tick "I didn't start my trip because of this delay or I ended it at the next station..." according to the railway.
The form is sent by post to: Passenger Rights Service Center, 60647 Frankfurt am Main.
The railway points out that the application button for the online refund will only be displayed on the website or in the app once the ticket's validity period has been reached.
It is therefore not possible to claim compensation days before the travel date.
What other rights do travelers have in the event of a strike?
Anyone stranded en route is entitled to meals and refreshments in proportion to the waiting time in the event of delays of more than an hour or train cancellations.
If it becomes apparent that the train will no longer be able to continue on a given day, the train company must, according to EU rules, arrange accommodation in a hotel or “other accommodation” and organize the transfer there.
If you book a hotel room on your own, you should first confirm with the railway that it is not possible to continue your journey and that they cannot help with accommodation.
The Arbitration Board for Public Passenger Transport (SÖP) offers a good overview of rail passenger rights, for example self-organized onward travel in certain cases and rights in regional transport, on its website.
For example, when you can buy a long-distance bus ticket and then get the expenses back from the train company.
As a neutral authority, the SÖP mediates in disputes between travelers and - above all - rail companies and airlines.
You can contact the arbitration board free of charge.
For example, if there is a dispute about refunds.
What do commuters have to consider?
A rail strike can be a particular challenge for commuters because they still have to show up for work.
“The so-called travel risk is always borne by the employee, whether there is a strike or not,” said lawyer Nathalie Oberthür on the occasion of the warning strike at the end of March.
A strike is not an unforeseen event.
As a rule, it is announced in good time, i.e. the day before or even earlier.
more on the subject
Warning strike by the GDL from Wednesday: What rights commuters now have
Employees can switch to their own car, car sharing or bicycle - in the city, thanks to short distances, getting around is usually easier than in the country.
But legally that doesn't matter.
“If necessary, employees have to take a taxi at their own expense, and that is also reasonable,” says Oberthür.
And what about home office?
If it is already practice in everyday working life, the employee has a good chance of being allowed to do this on the day of the strike.
As part of his duty of care, the employer is likely to be obliged in this exceptional case to enable work to be carried out at home.
However, there is no case law on this yet.
Calling in sick on a strike day instead of finding alternative ways to travel is not a good idea.
The labor lawyer Michael Fuhlrott pointed this out: "If the employer discovers that the sick note was only a fake, there is a serious breach of contractual obligation." This could result in immediate dismissal and the loss of your job.
Are there alternatives to traveling by train?
Anyone who absolutely has to travel during the announced strike will have to change - by bicycle, long-distance bus, own car, carpool, rental car, ride-sharing or plane.
But be careful: it could be difficult to rent a car on the day of the strike, as demand usually increases dramatically.
Who covers the cost of the bus or rental car?
If the railway organizes the alternatives itself, then it also pays for them: It would be conceivable, for example, for long-distance bus transport from individual train stations or taxi rides if, for example, the train stops at the station in the evening and there are still many passengers who have to go one city further.
Anyone who books a rental car or plane ticket in advance cannot hope that this money will be refunded.
"You can try to have the costs advanced reimbursed - but if in doubt, the railway will refuse," is the assessment of rail passenger rights expert and lawyer André Schulze-Wethmar from the European Consumer Center.
It would be easier to get the price of the train ticket refunded and look for the alternative at your own expense.
abl/dpa