Real redress, in order

1. The railway company, in writing

   Without waiting

   The official EU page asks you to send your complaint to the railway company first, which must give a reasoned reply within one month, and up to three months in duly justified cases. Quote the Regulation, the file number, the scheduled departure time, the actual arrival time and the amount claimed. Keep your two requests clearly apart: the reimbursement of re-routing costs on one side, the compensation percentage on the other.

   Rail passenger rights (Your Europe, European Union)

2. The national authority that granted the company's licence

   Within 3 months of the refusal

   With a refusal, or a reply that does not satisfy you, you have three months to go to it. What counts is not the authority of your country of residence, but the one that granted the company its licence. Its procedure takes three months at most, six for complex cases, and ends in a non-binding legal opinion. The European Commission publishes the list of designated bodies.

   National enforcement bodies (European Commission)

3. The European Consumer Centre in your country

   At any time

   The official EU page points you to your local European Consumer Centre for help and advice on problems related to rail passenger rights.

   European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net)

4. The European Small Claims Procedure

   Last

   A written procedure, provided by EU law for low-value cross-border claims. The Regulation that sets it up states in black and white that representation by a lawyer or another legal professional is not mandatory.

   Small claims (e-Justice portal, European Union)

The limitation periods for taking a railway undertaking to court are set by national rules: this site does not cover them, because it presents only the European baseline common to the twenty-seven.