Air conditioning on the train broken: Are travelers entitled to compensation?

When the heat shimmers outside and the sun burns mercilessly from the sky, many people dream more of a dip in the cool water than a train ride across Germany . But the weather is unforgiving – commuters, travelers, and vacationers are on the move even on the hottest days. Fortunately, air conditioning on most trains ensures bearable conditions.

But when outages occur, the question arises: What rights do I have if the air conditioning breaks down? Will I get my money back? As is often the case, the answer is: It depends.

A failure of the air conditioning alone does not automatically result in compensation. Deutsche Bahn explains in its official FAQ : "You may have passenger rights claims if you were unable to use your reserved seat or booked first class due to a malfunction of the air conditioning or a locked carriage."

This means: There is no blanket claim. Only if a specific loss of comfort can be proven will money be refunded. In such cases, a partial refund or a voucher can be requested. Karl-Peter Naumann from the passenger association Pro Bahn confirmed this to reisereporter when asked: "There are no special rights here. After complaints, there may be accommodating solutions (such as a travel voucher)."

If the air conditioning fails in a single carriage and the temperature there is no longer acceptable, the affected carriage will be closed, according to DB. A DB spokesperson explained to Reisereporter that a seat will be sought for the affected passengers in another section of the train.

In general, if a reserved seat is not allocated, not provided or missed due to a delay, passengers are entitled to a refund of the reservation fee paid.

The DB spokeswoman also explains: "If the failure of an air conditioning system means that first class cannot be used, passengers with a first-class ticket will receive compensation of 20 euros (for passengers with a Super Sparpreis or Sparpreis) or a refund of the difference between the price of a first- and second-class ticket (for passengers with a Flexpreis)."

However, the situation is different if the train is cancelled due to a faulty air conditioning system, cannot continue, or is delayed. In this case, as Pro-Bahn spokesperson Naumann explains, the "normal" passenger rights apply:

• from 60 minutes delay : 25 percent of the ticket price back
• from 120 minutes : 50 percent

Travellers can make claims for compensation digitally via their customer account and in the DB Navigator or by post using the passenger rights form .

Despite the summer heat, it usually remains cool on the ICE – but in the event of cancellations, passengers may be able to demand a refund.

Source: imago images/teutopress

If the air conditioning on a train fails, passengers should always inform the train crew. Spokesperson Karl-Peter Naumann points out that many trains have special intercoms through which passengers can contact the train crew directly.

Especially on longer trains such as the ICE or regional express, it is advisable to go to another carriage.

According to the passenger association Pro Bahn, complete failures of air conditioning systems throughout the entire train are now rare. Deutsche Bahn also confirms that air conditioning availability on long-distance trains is over 99 percent .

One reason for this: Deutsche Bahn has invested heavily in its vehicle fleet in recent years. Around 170 new ICE trains have been put into service since 2016. Compared to summer 2019, more than three times as many trains are now running with modern air conditioning systems – a total of over 250 additional vehicles. "The air conditioning systems in the new vehicles are more powerful and meet comfort requirements up to an outside temperature of plus 40 degrees Celsius and are functional up to 54 degrees Celsius ," the Deutsche Bahn spokesperson explains.

"It's important to maintain the systems as best as possible to prevent them from breaking down," emphasizes Pro-Bahn spokesperson Naumann. Equally crucial, however, is providing passengers with prompt and transparent information: for example, about which cars still have air conditioning and where free seats are available.

If a complete disruption does occur, Naumann says the train should stop at the nearest possible station so passengers can reorient themselves or change trains. In such cases, it's also part of the service to provide free drinking water – especially on long-distance trains, where water reserves are usually carried on board.

And if you do find yourself sitting on a train without a functioning air conditioning system, a little humor might help. We've compiled the most bizarre announcements from Deutsche Bahn regarding air conditioning here .

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travel reporter