Compensation from Deutsche Bahn

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Deutsch Bahn (in line with European legislation) gives you pretty comprehensive rights when trains are delayed and cancelled. So you'll get some money back, and it may even be more than the bus fare.

What you'll get exactly depends a bit on things you did not write here. You didn't say wether you discussed the situation with the rail staff or what you were offered by them.

In general, in this situation, I'd expect DB to put you up in a Hotel for the night and then onto the next train to Zagreb (which would have been at 8:17am from Munich, with arrival in Zagreb at 17:19). My experience is that you can also negotiate a voucher for onward transportation instead of the hotel.

However, if you take alternative transportation without consulting the rail staff, then you'll only get a refund in very limited circumstances and only if you had no chance of contacting them. Even then it is capped at 80 EUR per person.

What you get back

If you "abandoned" you rail journey at Munich, because you didn't like the offer that Deutsche Bahn made: You should get a complete refund for the Munich-Zagreb leg, including all surcharges (e.g. for sleeping compartments). You'll also get a refund for all unused seat reservations and surcharges for trains that you could not use on the Bruges-Munich leg (e.g. if you paid high-speed surcharge but travelled on a local train).

On the other hand, if you "completed" the journey, (e.g. if you negotiated the bus a a replacement), you would get a refund of half of the overall ticket price. Again, you should also get reservations refunded in full, including surcharges for sleeping compartments.

All of this assumes that all jouneys are on the same ticket that you bought from Deutsche Bahn. As they sold you the ticket, all requests for reimburs*m*nt should be made through Deutsche Bahn, as they sold the tickets.

Make the claim

I already linked the passenger rights information above. The english version is not quite as comprehensive as the german one, but should give you the gist.

You can download the claims form from their site. You have to submit your original ticket (or a printout of the e-ticket) with your request. Usually you don't need to submit proof for the delay itself, as they will have it in their system.

Side note

In a situation like this, it can help to check for alternative connections on your own as soon as things start to go wrong. You are entitled to use any alternative train to your destination, and you can check the "DB Navigator App" or online timetable for alternatives. If you get hold of the conductor, they'll also usually look up alternative connections for you.

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