Deutsche Bahn allows free cancellation of long-distance tickets due to heat wave

According to the company, the special arrangement applies to long-distance tickets whose travel date is up to and including 30 June 2026. The prerequisite is that the ticket was purchased no later than 23 June 2026. The discounted Sparpreis and Supersparpreis tickets are also included, which normally exclude cancellation.

„Allen, die in dieser extremen Wetterlage auf ihre Fahrt verzichten können, legen wir die Sonderregelung zur Stornierung nahe", Deutsche Bahn announced. The company also made an appeal to all travelers who have to travel despite the heat: one asks „alle Reisenden, die in diesen Tagen unterwegs sein müssen, um besondere gegenseitige Rücksichtnahme und um Verständnis gegenüber den Mitarbeitenden der Bahn".

Infrastructure under heat stress

The reason for the measure is the concern about heat-related damage to the rail infrastructure. Switches, signal technology and safety systems can be affected by high temperatures and prolonged direct sunlight. In addition, the risk of embankment fires increases in extreme heat, which can also cause damage to track systems.

Last summer, similar heat phases in June and July had led to switch malfunctions, which resulted in numerous train cancellations and delays. Deutsche Bahn therefore does not rule out further heat-related restrictions this summer. Heavy rain, thunderstorms and storm gusts could also put additional strain on operations.

According to the company, the air conditioning systems on Deutsche Bahn's long-distance trains now fail less frequently in high temperatures than in the past. The fleet has been significantly rejuvenated in recent years, the company explained. Nevertheless, the route network is susceptible to disruptions even under normal conditions.

Passengers with digital tickets can cancel their booking online, according to the company. Anyone holding a paper ticket must contact a DB Reise shop or a DB agency on site. Bahn recommends that official heat warnings be taken into account when planning travel.

How the cancellation works

„Wir empfehlen dringend, bei der Reiseplanung die amtlichen Hitze-Warnungen zu beachten", the company further explained. Anyone who does not wish to undertake their journey in this extreme weather situation will get their money back. According to Bahn, the term „Hitze-Sonderkulanz" was used for the first time this summer.

The original report by the news agency dpa-AFX about the goodwill arrangement was disseminated from Berlin on 25 June 2026. Deutsche Bahn is a federally owned company and belongs entirely to the federal government. Further rising temperatures are expected in the coming days.

Preparations in Hesse

In Hesse, where meteorologists expect up to 41 degrees in places on Saturday, other bodies are also preparing for the extreme strain. Frankfurt University Medical Center explained on request that it currently has sufficient bed and staff capacity to „die hohe Zahl an Akutfällen zu versorgen". A hospital spokesman said care was secured.

The University Hospital Gießen and Marburg also stated that it generally maintains an „adäquaten Vorrat" of infusion solutions. Doctors warn, however, that heat-related complaints often occur with a delay. „Die Beschwerden treten oft erst nach Stunden auf, gelegentlich erst in der Nacht", said the chief physician of a clinic. In the event of impaired consciousness, confusion, seizures, shortness of breath, chest pain or circulatory collapse, the emergency services should be alerted on 112.

Municipalities respond to the strain

In Hesse, individual municipal events are falling victim to the heat. The town of Bensheim on the Bergstraße cancelled the "Lauterbar" – a street festival with food trucks, bar and music – on Thursday. Darmstadt cancelled a sports and games festival. The 48th Darmstadt Merck City Run, planned for Thursday evening, will take place despite expected maximum temperatures of 38 degrees. The organisers called on participants to reduce their pace – „trotz aller Start-Emotionen" – and to look out for one another.

The city of Gießen moved the start of waste collection to 5 a.m. to reduce the strain on employees. The Darmstadt-Dieburg district followed suit: in Babenhausen, Dieburg, Groß-Bieberau, Groß-Umstadt, Groß-Zimmern, Messel, Münster, Otzberg, Reinheim and Roßdorf, the garbage trucks also start at 5 a.m. on Thursday and Friday. Employers are obliged to reduce the strain on their employees at temperatures beyond the 30-degree mark.

According to the meteorologists, cooling is not in sight until Monday: then temperatures „stürzen" to below 30 degrees according to the forecast. Until then, it will remain unusually warm in many places at night. At Frankfurt Airport, the temperature dropped to only 23.7 degrees on one night, and to 29.3 degrees on the Kleiner Feldberg in the Taunus. Comparatively cool remained the Wasserkuppe with a maximum of 28.3 degrees during the day.

When will the cooling arrive?

hr meteorologist Tim Staeger explained the so-called "Heat Dome" as the cause of the extreme weather situation. Such a constellation causes hot air masses to become dammed up over Central Europe and to be able to circulate little. According to experts, such extreme temperatures are likely to occur more frequently in the future.

Anyone who is nevertheless out and about outdoors can fall back on a free web application: the navigation tool "shaded.openrouteservice" does not search for the fastest, but for the shadiest walking route. According to the provider, the application is currently available in 80 cities across Germany. It can be found by searching for "shaded.openrouteservice".

In addition, the risk of forest fires increases with persistent drought. Authorities warn that any fire should be reported immediately on 112. Agriculture also requires special precautions in these weather conditions: food banks are accustomed to such weather conditions and adjust their procedures accordingly, „damit die Lebensmittelsicherheit jederzeit gewährleistet werden kann".

Veterinary controls are also being stepped up: an official veterinarian pointed out that certain husbandry conditions are no longer acceptable in the heat. „Das geht gar nicht", said Dirk Behnke with a view to specific incidents. Cultural events in cool indoor spaces are considered alternative points of contact for anyone who wants to escape the hot weather.