Union Criticizes ÖBB Plans for Operations Managers and Sees Safety at Risk

The union vida warns of an impending safety-related misjudgment at the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB): There are plans for "cuts in operations managers and train attendants." The safety of passengers and employees could be "massively endangered." The ÖBB vehemently denied impending safety gaps and cuts in response to an APA inquiry.

Operations Manager System to be Restructured

According to the railway, a restructuring including the "establishment of full-time operations managers" is planned. Based on experiences and analyses, the ÖBB has "determined that the locations are utilized differently. For example, on a regional railway where no train runs at night, the risk of an operation is very low." Therefore, evaluations are being conducted to optimize the concept with the operations managers.

The union vida stated that "by 2027 at the latest," there will be no operations managers on duty at many locations between 10 PM and 6 AM. In emergencies, "no qualified decision-making authority" would be on site.

ÖBB: No Reduction, but Redistribution

The ÖBB stated in response to inquiries: "Contrary to the claims made, there will be no cuts, but rather a restructuring that will even lead to an increase in full-time operations managers overall, and the already high safety level will further increase due to new technical possibilities." A spokesperson told the APA that it is about the optimal distribution of operations managers according to traffic volume. The restructuring will not lead to safety gaps.

Union Warns of Impending Safety Gaps

The vida union supported SPÖ Federal Councilor and ÖBB train driver Daniel Schmid in their broadcast on Friday, who recently warned in the media about possible "cuts." According to union information, digitalization and technological progress are supposed to replace people. However, the dispatchers and train attendants are "not dispensable cost centers, but essential pillars of safety in rail transport," said the chief vida rail unionist Gerhard Tauchner.

Currently Network with 55 Locations

According to their own information on Friday, ÖBB operates an emergency management system that is used in the event of technical defects, storm damage, or accidents. Currently, there is a network with 55 locations where dispatchers work. "Technological progress also supports emergency management in its tasks, and ÖBB is committed to significant investments in emergency management. For example, we are currently investing around 260 million euros in new rescue trains." Drones are already being used on a trial basis "to support and relieve the dispatchers. A comprehensive deployment is planned for the coming years."

Criticism of Night Closures

According to the union, there should be no dispatchers at night at locations such as Vienna-Floridsdorf, Linz, Salzburg, Saalfelden, Gänserndorf, Mürzzuschlag, and Lienz. However, the current ÖBB timetable shows that no (passenger) train runs at night in the Tyrolean district town of Lienz (Drautalbahn). The waiting room closes at 10 PM and reopens at 5:30 AM.

Regarding the completely differently structured metropolitan area of Vienna, ÖBB states that due to the high density of dispatcher locations in the Vienna city area and its surroundings - especially Vienna Central Station, Heiligenstadt, Hütteldorf, Süßenbrunn, and Central Marshalling Yard - and short travel distances, Floridsdorf is "reachable within a few minutes in an emergency." They will drive with blue lights. Therefore, it is planned not to staff the Floridsdorf location from January 2027. "Operational readiness is always ensured, as any events during these periods are covered by clearly defined neighboring locations."

ÖBB did not provide any further information on other locations and how many there should be in the end. This also applies to the issue of train attendants.

(APA/Red)

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