365-Euro Annual Ticket for Wiener Linien in Jeopardy: Criticism from FPÖ and Greens

Both the Vienna Greens and the Vienna FPÖ see the 365-euro annual ticket of the Wiener Linien for the use of public transport at risk. There is criticism from both sides regarding the possible price increase. The Green city party has therefore started a petition for its retention. The FPÖ sees it as a "rip-off of the population". The SPÖ counters.

As the Greens said at a press conference on Wednesday, it is becoming apparent that the annual ticket for one euro per day is in jeopardy. "A clear commitment to the 365-euro ticket has recently been avoided by the red-pink city government and is also not found in the coalition program," it was said. Before the introduction of the currently valid annual ticket in 2012 under the red-green city government, the Wiener Linien ticket cost 449 euros for a year.

Vienna FPÖ and Greens: Criticism of Possible Price Increase for Annual Ticket and Petition

"Passengers have had a significant saving of more than 160 euros per year compared to an inflation-adjusted pricing due to the stable price of 365 euros over 13 years," said the Greens. The current conditions are important both socially and in terms of climate policy. Here you can cast votes for the retention of the 365-euro ticket, explained the chairwoman of the Vienna Greens, Judith Pühringer. Additionally, the party once again called on the city government to invest more in the expansion of the public transport network.

An increase in the annual ticket to up to 515 euros, as is currently being discussed, is a massive misstep. "The city of Vienna manages in an impressive way to make driving more difficult and at the same time make public transport more expensive," said FPÖ transport spokesman Anton Mahdalik and Vienna FPÖ municipal councilor Klemens Resch, committee spokesman for urban development, mobility, and Wiener Stadtwerke. In an upcoming special debate as part of the financial statement, Resch plans to submit a motion against a price increase.

The FPÖ criticizes that the red-pink city government is making driving increasingly unattractive while wanting to make public transport more expensive. "Mobility is not a luxury, but a prerequisite for social and economic everyday life. Those who make both cars and public transport unaffordable take away people's freedom of choice and endanger the cohesion of this city," Mahdalik and Resch concluded.

SPÖ Rejects Criticism - with Attack on Greens

The Vienna SPÖ counters the accusations - without, however, giving an explicit assurance not to implement a price increase. "Vienna has been showing for years what real social climate policy looks like. Instead of cheap rhetoric, we deliver real measures - for affordable mobility, for climate protection, and for social justice," said state parliament member and member of the municipal council committee for innovation, urban planning, and mobility, Omar Al-Rawi. Vienna would contribute to budget consolidation, "but not at the expense of the people".

Rather, there was criticism directed at the Greens: They had not managed to implement concrete measures in important future areas during their federal political responsibility. Due to the abolition of cold progression supported by the Greens, countermeasures are now needed, for example in the transport sector, the SPÖ retorted. There have been price increases since 2021, for example with the ÖBB.

(APA/Red.)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.