General Conditions of Carriage of the Deutsche Bahn Group

1.1 Basic principle

These conditions are valid for the carriage of passengers on transportation companies of the Deutsche Bahn group, on all rail routes operated by the group, unless otherwise stipulated in the following conditions. Where carriage is fully or partially provided by transportation companies other than the Deutsche Bahn group, the contract of carriage with the respective transportation company providing carriage services and thus the conditions of carriage therein also apply. Non-stop tickets are sold exclusively on behalf of and for the account of the respective transportation company providing carriage.

1.2 Product classes

The transportation companies provide carriage in the following product classes: 

Product class ICE: InterCityExpress (ICE), InterCityExpress-Sprinter (ICE-Sprinter),

Product class IC/EC: InterCity (IC), EuroCity (EC), D-Zug (D);

Product class C: InterRegio (IR), InterRegioExpress (IRE), RegionalExpress (RE), RegionalBahn (RB) and S-Bahn (S)

1.3 Exceptions

These conditions do not apply for travel in trains in product class C, except on IR trains that operate exclusively on routes of a single traffic network, a fare community or S-Bahn fare sector; on these trains the respective effective fares for said routes are definitive. For trains other than those named in 1.2 special conditions of carriage apply.

1.4 Special conditions

Additional special conditions for the carriage of luggage apply. Otherwise the conditions in the Railway Traffic Regulations (EVO) apply in its currently valid version.

2.1 Carriage

The right to be carried depends on the presentation of a valid ticket. The details on the ticket govern carriage. A ticket for a higher product class is also valid for carriage in a lower product class, as long as there is no reservation on a specific train. A ticket for travel in first class is also valid for travel in second class.

2.2 Period of validity of "Rail&Fly" tickets

2.2.1 A ticket’s period of validity is based on the ticket itself. Tickets are valid on the flight day as well as one day after arrival and one day before departure. The period between outward and inbound flights cannot exceed six months.

2.2.2 The transportation company will extend the ticket’s period of validity if passengers are not able to take the train due to its delay or cancellation or if they miss a connecting train and would have been able to use the ticket within the original period of validity had there been no delay or cancellation.

2.3 Upgrade

Ticket holders who wish to travel in a higher class may pay for the upgrade for the whole route or for part of it. The outstanding balance is the difference between the normal fares for the route concerned.

2.4 Transferability

The ticket is only transferable if it is not made out in the name of a specific person. Passengers with tickets bearing their name must prove their identity by presenting an official photo ID on request during ticket inspection.

2.5 Nullity

A ticket is invalid (i) if it does not contain the necessary details, entries, signatures and pictures, (ii) if it is significantly damaged, its content rendered unrecognisable or it has been changed unlawfully, (iii) if it is valid only in conjunction with an ID card or entitlement card that cannot be provided or has expired, (iv) if the period of validity has not yet begun or has expired, or (v) if it does not demonstrate that it has been validated in accordance with stipulations.

2.6 Changes & cancellation

The Rail&Fly ticket can only be cancelled and changed if certain conditions are met.

3.1 Reservation

Depending on availability passengers can reserve seats at the earliest three months in advance. The transportation company can establish an obligation to reserve for specific trains either wholly or partially or exclude the possibility of reserving seats wholly or partially on certain trains. Trains where reservations are obligatory are marked with an R in the timetable. The right to take up a reserved seat lapses if the passenger does not occupy the seat within 15 minutes of the departure of the train from the station the reservation was booked for.

3.2 Reservation fee

The reservation fee, which also includes a reservation for one connecting train, is currently €4.50 (2nd class) and €5.90 (1st class) per person per route . Reservations can only be purchased at Deutsche Bahn agencies.

3.3 Exchange, refund

If reserved seats cannot be assigned or assigned seats cannot be held or are not taken up due to a train being delayed, the passenger has the right to be refunded the reservation fee. In all other cases exchange and refund are excluded.

4.1 General behaviour requirements

Passengers should behave in such a manner so as to not unduly disturb other passengers. Passengers may only occupy one seat. Where necessary, seats or compartments for infants and severely disabled people must be vacated when these passengers present themselves. In the parts of the train designated as “non-smoking”, smoking is not permitted even if other passengers give their consent.

4.2 Misuse of emergency devices

Passengers may only activate the emergency brakes or the emergency door release if their own safety, the safety of other passengers, other people or the train itself is in danger. In cases of misuse, the passenger must pay €200 without prejudice to other claims. The passenger has the right to prove that their actions led to no or little damage.

5.1 Luggage

In addition to hand luggage, passengers may bring one item of luggage. "Luggage" means objects (not hand luggage) that can be carried by one person. Otherwise, passengers can check in luggage under the conditions valid for this purpose.

5.2 Objects that cannot be carried

5.2.1 Objects and materials capable of disturbing or injuring fellow passengers or damaging the train itself cannot be taken on board either as hand luggage or baggage. Particularly excluded are dangerous substances and objects, firearms, explosive and flammable substances and objects, substances that can be ignited, are poisonous, radio-active, corrosive and infectious, as well as other dangerous objects according to the law on the carriage of dangerous goods (GGBeFG) and the regulation on domestic and cross-border carriage by road or rail (GGVSE), mopeds or small mopeds and objects and substances, whose transportation is prohibited under other legal provisions.

5.2.2 If there are grounds to suspect that passengers are carrying objects or substances excluded from transportation, they must immediately present the transportation company with the expert opinion on the object or substance in question and, where necessary, prove its innocuousness. Passengers who cannot meet this requirement or are carrying with them recognisable excluded objects or substances can be barred from being carried any further and lose their right to a refund.

5.3 Animals

We will transport live pets that are small (up to the size of a house cat), innocuous and held in containers as hand luggage. The containers must be such that they do not cause a nuisance to people or belongings. There is no fee to transport these animals. Furthermore, dogs that are not held or cannot be held in containers or hand luggage can be transported on the condition that they are on a leash and are wearing an appropriate muzzle. For dogs such as these the fares that apply are those that apply for unaccompanied children aged 6 to 14. All other animals, as well as animals with contagious diseases, will not be transported. Animals are not allowed in carriages with catering facilities apart from guide dogs as stated in § 145 paragraph 2 number 2 of the social security code (SGB) IX. Furthermore said guide dogs are exempted from obligatory muzzles as laid down in § 145 paragraph 2 number 2 of the social security code (SGB) IX.

6.1 Transport capacity

Bicycles can be transported on trains in product class C (except on IR trains) and on trains marked with a bicycle symbol. Transport may be denied if there is a lack of space. In trains with the bicycle symbol you must reserve a space to be able to transport a bicycle. Bicycles cannot be transported on trains in the ICE product class.

6.2 Limitations

Bicycles are limited to one per passenger. Only two-wheel, single-seated bicycles, folded bicycle trailers and bicycles with an electric auxiliary engine are allowed. If there is sufficient space, on specific trains recumbent bicycles, tandems and tricycles can also be transported.

6.3 Positioning

In trains marked with the bicycle symbol and trains in product class C (with the exception of IR trains without any specific identification) bicycles can only be positioned in multi-purpose areas, in entry spaces, storage areas with fold-down seats, bicycle compartments and luggage carriages.

6.4 Transportation and reservation fee

6.4.1 Passengers must pay the transportation fee laid down for the carriage of bicycles by purchasing a bicycle ticket before beginning the journey. The fee is 9 € for travel on trains in the IC/EC product class and on IR trains. On presentation of a BahnCard 25 / BahnCard 50 the fee is 6 € and on product class C trains (except IR trains) the fee is 3 €. Tickets cannot be purchased in the train unless there was no way of buying one at the departure station before boarding the train. The period of validity of the bicycle ticket is the same as the period of validity of a ticket for a single journey.

6.4.2 You can reserve a storage place for free when you buy a bicycle ticket or reserve a seat. For the rest the reservation fee is 3 €. In addition the rules in 3.3. apply.

7.1 Liability for cancellation, delay or missed connections

7.1.1 If a delayed train means that the passenger misses a connecting train or the last scheduled connection to a public means of transport, or if a train is cancelled either entirely or on certain stretches, the passenger can (i) forego continuing the journey and claim a full refund of the fare for the part of the journey not travelled, (ii) forego continuing the journey and return free of charge to the station of departure on the next available train and claim a full refund of the fare and transport costs for luggage as well as the fare for the return of their luggage or (iii) continue the journey, as far as possible, at no extra cost on a train travelling via the same or a different route to the same destination station, a train that allows the passenger to reach their destination with as small a delay as possible.

7.1.2 The transportation company is liable to the passenger for the damage (stated below), which arises due to the fact that the journey cannot be completed by midnight on another scheduled means of transport or cannot be reasonably finished under the given circumstances due to a train being cancelled or delayed or due to a missed connection. Damages cover overnight accommodation and costs incurred informing those awaiting the passenger’s arrival, up to a maximum of 80 €. If another means of transport is cheaper and it can reasonably be taken, the transportation company will pay for this alternative. Alternatively the passenger can assert his claims according to 7.1.1.

7.1.3 If an ICE-Sprinter is over 30 minutes late, the ICE-Sprinter supplement can be claimed. Passengers must present the original ICE-Sprinter supplement ticket or a copy.

7.1.4 If trains in the ICE, IC/EC product classes or IR trains arrive more than 60 minutes late at the stations passengers are to alight the train at, they receive compensation of 5 € for second class and 7,50 € for first class; this rule also applies if passengers arrive at their destination stations more than 60 minutes late due to the cancellation of a train. For journeys with connections between trains named in article 1, passengers also receive this compensation, if, due to the delay or cancellation of such trains, they arrive over 60 minutes late at the station where they are to or would have alighted from the last train of a connection according to the timetable. Compensation claims can only be asserted once per ticket respectively (for return tickets once per direction).

7.1.5 Passengers cannot assert claims for compensation under articles 7.1.2 to 7.1.4, if the reason a train is cancelled or delayed or the reason a connection is missed is due to (i) circumstances outside the railway operator’s control, circumstances that could not be avoided and consequences that could not be anticipated despite the transportation company acting prudently, (ii) the fault of the passenger or (iii) the behaviour of a third party that could not be avoided nor could the consequences thereof be anticipated despite the transportation company acting prudently.

7.1.6 Passengers cannot assert joint claims for compensation based on 7.1.2 and 7.1.3 or 7.1.2 and 7.1.4.

7.1.7 For passengers to be able to assert their right to compensation according to 7.1.3 and/or 7.1.4 they will receive a voucher ticket either (i) while on board the delayed train in ICE, IC/EC or IR product classes, depending on availability, or (ii) at the service point at the station on the day of the delayed journey or during the 2 following days. The passenger should present this voucher, which should be filled out and furnished with the stamp of the issuing centre, as well as the corresponding ticket and/or copy of the ticket, within one month from the day of the delayed journey to a Deutsche Bahn travel centre, and after doing so they will receive a voucher valid for one year for the amount of compensation due. This cannot be exchanged for cash but can be used for another ticket purchase at any Deutsche Bahn centre or Deutsche Bahn travel agency.

7.1.8 Passengers can also claim compensation according to 7.1.3 and/or 7.1.4 at any Deutsche Bahn travel centre on the day of the delayed journey or within the following 2 days without the stamp. In this case passengers must ensure that the Deutsche Bahn customer service centre receives the voucher ticket, filled out by the passenger, as well as the corresponding ticket and/or copy of the ticket within one month of the day of the delayed journey. The customer service centre will send a voucher valid for a year for the amount of compensation due. This cannot be exchanged for cash but can be used for another ticket purchase at any Deutsche Bahn travel centre or Deutsche Bahn travel agency.

7.2 Liability for other reasons

As far as other legal grounds are concerned, the transportation company is only liable to the passenger in cases of intent or gross negligence, breach of contractually significant obligations (cardinal obligations) and the causation of death, injury to body or health in slight negligence. In cases of a breach to the contractually significant obligations liability to claims shall be limited, however, to typical foreseeable damages. Apart from in cases of intent, gross negligence or breach of contractually significant obligations, liability for material claims per passenger shall be limited to a maximum amount of 1.000 €. For the rest the conditions of the law on liability (HPflG) remain unaffected.