KKV: VR cancels service due to track failure and political strike, passengers’ rights violated

VR violates passengers’ rights due to strikes and track failure cancellations, Tell Competition and Consumer Agency.

VR had to cancel all long-distance train services on 12th and 13th of February due to political strikes and rail faults.

VR charged the difference in price for itinerary transfers, even though they should have been free. It also failed to provide sufficient information to explain passengers’ rights to change their tickets without additional charges.

Passengers who contact customer service do not have the option of changing their itinerary for free and can only get a refund for the ticket price.

They have to buy new train tickets themselves and pay the difference between the original and the new tickets. Because of the way VR prices its tickets, the new tickets may be more expensive.

If a long-distance train is cancelled or delayed for at least 60 minutes, passengers have the right to choose a refund or an alternative fare. The reason for the cancellation has no influence on this. Passengers must also be offered a new journey at no extra cost.

– Passengers must be informed of their right to choose as soon as they are informed of a delay of more than one hour. Consumer representatives said passengers must be able to choose to cancel their journey and change routes even if the ticket price for the new journey is higher, while railway companies can only automatically refund the ticket price to passengers. Katri Vananen In the announcement.

The consumer watchdog said VR’s actions violated EU rail liability regulations and consumer protection laws.

VR promised to correct its operating practices and announced that it would compensate passengers for their financial losses.