Passenger rights in the EU.

[Mgameing123]

Hello all. I'm currently looking at how possible it is to go from Denmark to England by train and I want to know what rights I would have if lets say I miss an important connection. What would happen?

 

[Alfonso]

Hello all. I'm currently looking at how possible it is to go from Denmark to England by train and I want to know what rights I would have if lets say I miss an important connection. What would happen?

This is several questions in one really: it's not just about your rights, it's about what types and combinations of tickets you are holding and probably most importantly what actually tends to happen. There's a pretty good practical summary on seat 61 ( https://www.seat61.com/european-train-travel.htm#if-things-go-wrong ) . Denmark to England isn't a hugely complex journey so ther isn't too much to go wrong. You can make life simpler by giving plenty of time for connections, avoiding the last trains of the day, and buying as much of your itinerary as possible in one transaction. Flexible tickets and rail passes may also be of use but generally train-specific tickets are not a problem if you can show that you missed the specific train because of a previous delayed train.

 

[30907]

avoiding the last trains of the day.

I agree, but in this case it is easier said than done outside high season. I don't know how you would go on with getting a hotel in Brussels refunded if DB delayed you.

(Eurostar have a good reputation for coping with delayed passengers.)

I would consider breaking the journey overnight or, perhaps best, heading for Hoek v H and the overnight Stena ferry.

 

[rvdborgt]

Denmark to London should be bookable in one transaction through DB (with ICE to Brussels). Although they state that they'll give you 2 separate contracts with a split in Brussels.

 

[signed]

Although they state that they'll give you 2 separate contracts with a split in Brussels.

Technically, but with HOTNAT, as long as your delay is caused by a member (and here it would be SNCB or NS), it shouldn't be an issue

 

[RT4038]

I agree, but in this case it is easier said than done outside high season. I don't know how you would go on with getting a hotel in Brussels refunded if DB delayed you.

Just make sure you've got the means (and knowledge) for a Plan B to cope with an overnight stay. You'll probably get it refunded later (other posters on here have in the past) by claiming. Just don't expect to be looked after in the same way as with a legacy airline through ticket!

 

[Mgameing123]

Denmark to London should be bookable in one transaction through DB (with ICE to Brussels). Although they state that they'll give you 2 separate contracts with a split in Brussels.

I can also book it on the DSB website. Is that a better option?

 

[RT4038]

I can also book it on the DSB website. Is that a better option?

I don't think it will make any difference.

 

[rvdborgt]

I can also book it on the DSB website. Is that a better option?

Compare prices I'd say. But I think DSB are using the DB system in the background so I'd expect the ticket price to be the same. Reservations may have different prices though.
Conditions may also be different. Unless they tell you in advance, i.e. before you pay, that you're going to have separate contracts, you have a through contract, with all rights attached to it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Aug 2024 ==

Technically, but with HOTNAT, as long as your delay is caused by a member (and here it would be SNCB or NS), it shouldn't be an issue

Not an issue for rebooking but HOTNAT (or AJC) doesn't cover overnight stays.

 

[AlbertBeale]

This is several questions in one really: it's not just about your rights, it's about what types and combinations of tickets you are holding and probably most importantly what actually tends to happen. There's a pretty good practical summary on seat 61 ( https://www.seat61.com/european-train-travel.htm#if-things-go-wrong ) . Denmark to England isn't a hugely complex journey so ther isn't too much to go wrong. You can make life simpler by giving plenty of time for connections, avoiding the last trains of the day, and buying as much of your itinerary as possible in one transaction. Flexible tickets and rail passes may also be of use but generally train-specific tickets are not a problem if you can show that you missed the specific train because of a previous delayed train.

I've done that journey, but generally via a break in Hamburg, so my main experience is only on Germany-London tickets (a pair of tickets rather than one through one last time I did it). And I can say that DB are so used to delays and missed connections that they're well practised at helping you out (including putting me up for the night because I'd miss the last Eurostar, and making sure I could carry over my onward tickets the next day). So, unless I was unusually lucky, I'd say that once you get over the border into Germany, DB will get you there (even if late...).

Clearly, though, London-Denmark (unless you're close to the German land border at the Danish end) or vv in one day will inevitably mean some tight-ish connections, and hence a risk of delays (at least until the new Fehmarn Belt tunnel is in action if you're going to or from Zeeland).

 

[Mgameing123]

I've done that journey, but generally via a break in Hamburg, so my main experience is only on Germany-London tickets (a pair of tickets rather than one through one last time I did it). And I can say that DB are so used to delays and missed connections that they're well practised at helping you out (including putting me up for the night because I'd miss the last Eurostar, and making sure I could carry over my onward tickets the next day). So, unless I was unusually lucky, I'd say that once you get over the border into Germany, DB will get you there (even if late...).

Clearly, though, London-Denmark (unless you're close to the German land border at the Danish end) or vv in one day will inevitably mean some tight-ish connections, and hence a risk of delays (at least until the new Fehmarn Belt tunnel is in action if you're going to or from Zeeland).

I live on Jutland so I'm not too far from the border.

 

[AlbertBeale]

I live on Jutland so I'm not too far from the border.

In that case, the schedule for you to get to London should be viable in a day - I've left Hamburg after lunch and got to London that evening without any difficult connections [if they're on time!]. And it's only c2hours from the border to Hamburg - so, depending on where you are in Jutland...

 

[Mgameing123]

In that case, the schedule for you to get to London should be viable in a day - I've left Hamburg after lunch and got to London that evening without any difficult connections [if they're on time!]. And it's only c2hours from the border to Hamburg - so, depending on where you are in Jutland...

Yeah my only issue is that the DB website only alllows a minimum of 45 minute connections. DSB website can’t do minimum change time and Rejseplanen is only valid in Denmark.

 

[30907]

Yeah my only issue is that the DB website only alllows a minimum of 45 minute connections.

Do you mean maximum? You can add 2x stopover to get round that.

 

[nwales58]

The 2 stopovers is an outstandingly good bit of booking on DB. You can force a longer connection, e.g. at Brussels into Eurostar, but also make an overnight stop of say 10-12h rather than it forcing you to catch the earliest service in the morning (max stop is 48h55m!).

 

[Mgameing123]

The 2 stopovers is an outstandingly good bit of booking on DB. You can force a longer connection, e.g. at Brussels into Eurostar, but also make an overnight stop of say 10-12h rather than it forcing you to catch the earliest service in the morning (max stop is 48h55m!).

I’d rather do it in a day.