Train delays in Montenegro 2026: compensation of 25 and 50 percent of the fare, refunds, meals and hotel, a complaint to the carrier and an appeal to the Railway Agency

Montenegro's new Act on Contractual Relations in Rail Transport has applied since 14 February 2026 and replaced the 2010 law. If your train reaches its destination 60 to 119 minutes late, the carrier owes you compensation of at least 25% of the fare, and for a delay of 120 minutes or more at least 50%. When a delay of 60 minutes or more can reasonably be expected already at departure, you choose between a refund of the fare and continuing your journey at no extra cost, and while you wait the carrier offers meals and drinks, and a hotel if needed. You complain to the carrier within three months, the carrier decides within one month, and if it rejects the complaint or does not answer, you appeal to the Railway Agency.

This guide explains how much compensation you get, when you can ask for a refund or another train, what help the carrier owes you while you wait, when there is no compensation and how to complain.

How much compensation do you get for a train delay?

• The delay is the difference between the scheduled and the actual arrival at the station shown on the ticket.
• Compensation is calculated from the full price you paid for the delayed journey, and for a return ticket from half the price, unless the price of each leg is shown separately.
• Passengers with monthly or season tickets also have the right to compensation, and for repeated delays the carrier pays under its own terms and can add up shorter delays.
• The carrier can set a minimum amount it pays out, but that amount cannot exceed 4 euros per ticket.
• No compensation is paid for a journey for which you have already received a refund.
• On international trains such as Bar-Belgrade, the carrier does not count a delay that it proves occurred on the territory of another country.

When can you ask for a refund or another train?

• If a delay of 60 minutes or more can reasonably be expected at departure, because of a missed connection or a cancellation, the carrier must immediately offer you a choice between a full refund, continuing to your destination at the earliest opportunity and continuing later, on a day of your choice.
• The refund covers the part of the journey not made, and also the part already made if the journey no longer serves its purpose, with a return to the departure station at the earliest opportunity.
• You pay nothing for continuing or rerouting, even when it involves a higher class or another mode of transport, and you can be moved to a lower class only if there is no other way.
• If you are not informed of the options within 100 minutes of the scheduled departure, you can take another train or bus yourself, and the carrier reimburses reasonable and necessary costs.
• The refund is paid within one month of your request, without deductions for transaction costs, and you get a voucher instead of money only if you agree.

What help does the carrier owe you while you wait?

• The carrier informs you of the reasons for the delay and the expected departure and arrival times as soon as it has that information.
• For a delay of 60 minutes or more or a cancellation, it offers free meals and refreshments in proportion to the waiting time, if they are available on the train or at the station.
• If an overnight stay is needed, it provides a hotel or other accommodation and transport to it, and in certain cases it can limit accommodation to three nights at most.
• If the train is blocked on the track, it arranges transport to the station or to the destination, as far as possible.
• At your request the carrier confirms on the ticket that the train was late, cancelled or that a connection was missed, and that confirmation serves as your evidence.

When is there no compensation?

• There is no compensation if you knew about the delay before buying the ticket.
• Nor is there any if the delay, after continuing on another train or means of transport, is shorter than 60 minutes.
• The carrier does not pay compensation if it proves the delay was caused by severe weather, a major natural disaster or a major public health crisis it could not avoid, by the passenger's fault or by the conduct of other people it could not prevent, for example people on the track or cable theft.
• A strike by the carrier's staff and failures of another carrier or the infrastructure manager do not release the carrier from paying compensation.
• These exceptions apply only to compensation, not to refunds, rerouting and help while you wait.

How do you complain?

• You send a written complaint with evidence, such as the ticket and the delay confirmation, to the carrier within three months at the latest.
• The carrier decides on the complaint within one month.
• If the carrier does not decide or rejects the complaint, you appeal to the Railway Agency, which confirms receipt within two weeks and decides within three months, and in complex cases involving court proceedings it can extend the deadline by another three months.
• You can submit a refund or compensation request on the official form, but the carrier may not reject a request just because it is not on the form.
• Persons with disabilities and reduced mobility get assistance free of charge if they announce it at least 24 hours in advance.

What fines does the carrier face?

• Compliance is supervised by the passenger rights inspector at the Railway Agency.

Fares and timetables are explained in our guide to the Bar-Belgrade train, and flight rights in our guide to cancelled or delayed flights. Free travel for persons with disabilities is covered in our guide to the disability travel concession, and shoppers' rights in our guide to consumer complaints and warranties.

Frequently asked questions

How much compensation do I get if my train is late? At least 25% of the fare for a delay of 60 to 119 minutes and at least 50% for a delay of 120 minutes or more.

Do I get compensation on the Bar-Belgrade train? The law covers contracts performed by carriers licensed in Montenegro, including international trains, but the carrier does not count a delay it proves occurred in another country.

When can I ask for a refund of the fare? When a delay of 60 minutes or more can reasonably be expected at departure, because of a missed connection or a cancellation, and the refund is paid within one month.

Does the carrier pay for a hotel if the train is late? Yes, when an overnight stay is needed because of a delay of 60 minutes or more or a cancellation, the carrier provides accommodation and transport to it, as far as possible.

What is the deadline for complaining about a train delay? Three months to the carrier, and if it does not decide within one month or rejects the complaint, you appeal to the Railway Agency.

When am I not entitled to compensation? When you knew about the delay before buying the ticket, when the delay after rerouting is shorter than 60 minutes or when the carrier proves extraordinary circumstances it could not avoid.

Sources

Compensation, refunds, assistance to passengers, exceptions, complaints, supervision and fines are set by the Act on Contractual Relations in Rail Transport (Official Gazette 12/2026, Articles 2, 24, 27 to 30, 72, 138, 140 and 146), and the three-month and one-month deadlines by the April 2026 amendment (Official Gazette 50/2026). The information was checked on 27 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform; this text is not legal advice.