Originally Posted by
armus
I'd hope that a train from Cologne to Berlin wouldn't cost more than the 250 euro compensation for a cancelled flight (assuming there weren't circumstances that negated this compensation).
That compensation is for delayed arrival - which may be due to a cancellation of course, but not necessarily - the compensation is never just for "cancellation".
You can have a flight cancelled, be rebooked on another carrier, arrive within 3 hours of your original arrival time, and not be due compensation.
Or you can have a flight cancelled, ask for a refund, and that's the end of it! To be due for delayed arrival compensation, you must NOT accept a refund and must NOT rebook yourself, but travel on the airline's re-issued ticket.