General Terms and Conditions of Business and Carriage (GTC/GTC of Carriage)
of RevierTouristik GmbH
– hereinafter ‘RT’ –
§ 1 Scope and Legal Basis
These General Terms and Conditions of Business and Carriage apply to all contracts of carriage between RevierTouristik GmbH (hereinafter “RT”) and passengers or contracting parties in respect of regular services, special and event journeys, and hire coach/charter services.
In addition, and taking precedence, the mandatory statutory provisions apply to regular services, in particular:
a) the Ordinance on the General Conditions of Carriage for Tram and Trolleybus Services and Regular Motor Vehicle Services (BedBeFV),
b) the Passenger Transport Act (PBefG),
c) BOKraft,
d) Regulation (EU) No 181/2011 on passenger rights in bus and coach transport.
These General Terms and Conditions/General Conditions of Carriage supplement the aforementioned regulations. Mandatory statutory provisions remain unaffected and shall take precedence in the event of a conflict.
Any deviating terms and conditions of contractual partners shall not form part of the contract unless RT expressly agrees to their validity in writing.
§ 2 Types of service
RT provides the following services:
Regular services (public)
Regular transport in accordance with a published timetable (online) at the company’s own fare.
Special and event trips (public)
Special and event trips are journeys that are distinct in terms of timing or content (e.g. themed, cultural or day trips). These journeys do not constitute package holidays within the meaning of Sections 651a et seq. of the German Civil Code (BGB). The sole subject matter of the contract is the carriage of passengers on the advertised route. Any programme items, presentations, themed activities, catering or other additional services advertised in connection with the journey are provided on a voluntary basis and do not form part of the carriage service owed. There is no entitlement to their provision. We reserve the right to make changes to or cancel such additional services, provided that this does not significantly alter the nature of the transport service.
Hired coach/charter services
Transport of closed groups on the basis of individual contractual agreements.
§ 3 Conclusion of the Contract
For regular services, the contract of carriage comes into effect upon the purchase of a valid ticket.
For online bookings, the contract of carriage comes into effect upon completion of the electronic booking process and confirmation of the booking by the system.
For special and event services, the contract of carriage comes into effect upon acceptance of the booking by RT. Acceptance may be made in writing or in text form.
In the case of charter contracts, the contract is concluded upon written or electronic confirmation of the order by RT. RT is bound by its offer for a period of 14 calendar days, unless a different period is specified in the offer.
§ 4 Prices and Terms of Payment
The prices agreed or published at the time the contract is concluded shall apply.
For special and event trips, payment is due in advance. The trip shall only be carried out once full payment has been received.
For charter contracts, a deposit of 50 % of the agreed total price is due upon conclusion of the contract, unless otherwise agreed. The balance must be paid no later than before the journey takes place.
Payments may be made using the payment methods offered:
a) Online booking platform:
i. Debit/credit card
ii. PayPal
iii. Invoice (subject to separate agreement)
b) Payment on board:
i. Debit/credit card
ii. Apple Pay
iii. Google Pay
Cash payments are not accepted.
RT is entitled to temporarily exclude individual payment methods for objective reasons.
§ 5 Exclusion of the right of withdrawal for online bookings
There is no right of withdrawal for tickets purchased via RT’s online shop.
The services offered are services relating to leisure activities, for the provision of which a specific date or time period (specific date and time) is contractually stipulated.
In accordance with § 312g(2)(9) of the German Civil Code (BGB), the right of withdrawal is excluded by law for such contracts.
The return or free cancellation of tickets purchased online is therefore excluded, unless otherwise specified in these Terms and Conditions.
§ 6: Right to Carriage and Tickets
The right to carriage exists only with a valid ticket.
Tickets must be retained throughout the journey and presented immediately to ticket inspectors or operating staff upon request.
Invalid or misused tickets may be confiscated.
Passengers without a valid ticket are obliged to provide their personal details and to produce proof of identity upon request.
§ 7 Passenger Conduct
Passengers must conduct themselves in such a way as to ensure the safety and order of the service.
Passengers must comply with the instructions of the operating staff.
The following, in particular, are prohibited:
a) Endangering or harassing other passengers
b) Entering or opening restricted areas
c) Blocking doors or safety equipment
d) smoking, open flames, weapons or dangerous objects
e) consumption of alcohol is permitted only provided it does not cause a disturbance or pose a risk
Persons who are significantly under the influence of alcohol or drugs may be excluded from carriage. In such cases, there is no entitlement to a refund of the fare.
§ 8 Exclusion from carriage
RT may exclude persons from carriage if:
a) the safety or order of operations is jeopardised,
b) official regulations prohibit it,
c) the permitted passenger capacity has been reached.
Exclusion may also take place during the journey.
§ 9 Carriage of animals
Animals are generally not carried.
Exceptions are permitted only with prior consent.
Assistance animals must always be declared before the start of the journey.
§ 10 Carriage of goods
Small items of hand luggage are carried free of charge within the usual limits.
Bicycles may only be carried if there is sufficient space and by prior arrangement.
§ 11 Liability for valuables
RT shall only be liable for the loss of or damage to valuables (e.g. money, jewellery, electronic devices) to the extent required by law.
Customers are advised not to leave valuables unattended in the passenger area.
§ 12 Fares
The RT fares published and valid at the time the contract is concluded shall apply.
§ 13 Cancellation
Regular services:
Cancellation or rebooking of purchased tickets is not permitted.
Special and event services:
(a) up to 30 days before the start of the journey: 25 %
(b) 29–8 days before the start of the journey: 50 %
(c) from 7 days before the start of the journey or in the event of a no-show: 100 %
(d) Proof of lesser loss is expressly permitted.
Charter services:
(a) up to 30 days before the start of the journey: 25 %
(b) 29–11 days before the start of the journey: 50 %
(c) from 10 days before the start of the journey: 100 %
(d) It is also expressly possible to provide evidence of lesser loss.
§ 14 Delays, cancellations, force majeure
In the event of force majeure (e.g. extreme weather, natural disasters, official measures, unforeseeable technical faults, traffic disruptions), there is no obligation to provide alternative transport.
In the event of complete cancellation of the journey, the fare paid will be refunded.
Any further claims shall be limited exclusively to the provisions of the relevant legislation, in particular Regulation (EU) No 181/2011.
§ 15 Liability
RT’s liability is governed by the statutory provisions, in particular the Passenger Transport Act (PBefG), the Road Transport Ordinance (BOKraft) and EU Regulation 181/2011.
RT shall have unlimited liability in cases of wilful misconduct or gross negligence, as well as in the event of injury to life, limb or health.
In the event of a breach of essential contractual obligations due to slight negligence, liability is limited to the foreseeable damage typical for this type of contract.
Any further liability is excluded.
§ 16 Image and Audio Recordings
Upon conclusion of the contract, passengers consent to the making of image and audio recordings for use on the company’s own website and social media pages.
Passengers will be informed of this before the journey begins.
Passengers may object to the making or publication of recordings concerning them at any time.
Processing shall be carried out in accordance with data protection regulations.
§ 17 Lost Property
Sections 978–982 of the German Civil Code (BGB) apply to lost property.
Lost property must be handed over to the operating staff without delay.
§ 18 Jurisdiction and Applicable Law
All contracts concluded shall be governed exclusively by the law of the Federal Republic of Germany.
The place of performance is RT’s registered office.
The exclusive place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising out of or in connection with the service contract is the Local Court or Regional Court in 45130 Essen.
Should any individual provisions of these General Terms and Conditions be or become invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, this shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.
Essen, March 2026