Cancelling your train journey
You have booked a train journey but you are unwilling or unable to travel? The law does not provide for a right of withdrawal. Your options depend on (in that order):
- the cancellation and modification conditions of the railway company or companies
- the cancellation options offered by the ticket vendor or booking site
- whether you took out cancellation insurance
- an unexpected stroke of luck
The cancellation and modification conditions of the railway company or companies
Often you can choose between different types of tickets for your train journey where flexibility depends on the price. Whether you can change or cancel your ticket(s) depends on the conditions that apply to your ticket(s). It makes no difference where you bought your ticket - from the railway company or a ticket vendor.
Do you have flexible tickets? Notify the railway company - directly or through the ticket vendor, and within the required time limit - of the change or cancellation of your travel plans.
The cancellation options offered by the booking site
Certain ticket vendors sell a cancellation option along with tickets. This has the advantage that if your ticket cannot be cancelled or changed by the railway company or companies, you can ask the ticket vendor to reimburse your ticket. The ticket vendor will compensate you according to the terms that apply to the contract for this additional service.
Check the conditions before you buy or activate such an option: in what situations can you fall back on that option? What amounts are covered? How will you be paid? What time limits and procedures have to be observed?
Cancellation insurance
Can’t your ticket be cancelled according to the terms of the railway company? Don’t you have a cancellation option with the ticket vendor? In that case, cancellation insurance may be useful.
Such insurance can be taken out with:
- the railway company or ticket vendor together with the purchase of your ticket(s)
- your bank, for instance if you pay for the booking with a credit card that carries that facility
- an insurance company
Check the insurance policy to find out what exactly it covers and under what terms:
- which cancellation reasons are accepted?
- what amounts are covered?
- is there a deductible that you must pay?
- which supporting documents are required?
- what time limits and procedures have to be observed?
Do you have cancellation insurance and you wish to cancel your booking? You need to contact two parties:
- the railway company or ticket vendor for reimbursement of the sums as provided for in the cancellation conditions of the railway company;
- the insurance company. That will compensate you according to the terms of the policy, on top of the reimbursement already made. The contact details can be found in the insurance policy.
No prospect of reimbursement? Do not cancel!
Are your tickets not 100% reimbursable? Do you have no cancellation options or insurance? Do not cancel! Whether you cancel well in advance, on the day of departure, or simply don’t show up, the outcome is the same: you are not entitled to reimbursement.
Perhaps you may have a stroke of luck when the railway company cancels your train. In that case you are entitled to reimbursement of your booking.
