Train Travel is Becoming More Popular

The commissioning of the Koralmbahn in Carinthia and expanded services in Vienna led to an increase in train travelers. In interregional traffic, there were new connections between Linz and Graz as well as Vienna and Villach. Additionally, night trains and Westbahn connections were expanded. The passenger train kilometers reached 138.5 million.

Train Travel: ÖBB Expands Fleet

The growth in passenger transport is also being felt by the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). In the past two years, records have been set. Recently, ÖBB transported 511 million passengers per year, including bus and train travelers domestically and abroad. Therefore, the fleet will be expanded more than previously planned, with 40 new generation Railjets to be acquired by 2030 instead of the previously planned 27. The Nightjet fleet will also be expanded, with 24 of the 33 planned trains arriving by mid-2026, as the railway company announced on Thursday.

Freight Transport Dynamic but with Little Growth

Freight transport has developed "dynamically" and there is lively competition, but growth in the sector was absent in 2024, according to Schienen-Control. The regulatory authority cited the bleak economic situation, international construction sites, restrictions due to flooding, and problems in procuring personnel as well as locomotives and freight cars as reasons. "Despite the increasing number of providers, the performance of rail freight transport has stagnated for years," said Schienen-Control Managing Director Maria-Theresia Röhsler according to the release.

The market leader in freight transport remained Rail Cargo Austria, which is part of the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). Its share of net ton kilometers was 57.3 percent (-0.3 percent). Following were private railway companies, including Ecco-Rail, Lokomotion, and CargoServ, with a total share of 27.6 percent. On the main transit axes (western axis, Brenner), private railways already dominated freight transport in 2024.

Regulatory Authority Identifies Distorted Conditions in Favor of Road

The number of providers in the market increased in 2024. A total of 68 companies were authorized to operate trains on the ÖBB network. Austria is developing into a hub in European rail freight transport. However, a harmonization of rules at the EU level and flexible track allocation are necessary, according to the regulatory authority. The main competition for rail in Austria comes from the road. The regulatory authority identifies structurally distorted conditions in favor of the road, such as lower personnel costs and lower taxes. It criticizes the lack of pricing for external costs in truck and air traffic.

Andreas Schieder, SPÖ-EU delegation leader and chairman of the European Rail Forum (Rail Forum Europe), welcomed the upswing in passenger transport but sees a need for action in the comprehensive network expansion, direct connections, and reliable scheduling. At the same time, tax advantages for air traffic must be abolished, said the politician in a statement.

(APA/Red)

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