Evictions without a seat reservation, overcrowded trains: the Austrian railways recently seemed massively overwhelmed by the sheer number of passengers. However, Minister of Transport, Climate and Energy Leonore Gewessler (Greens) defended ÖBB on Sunday: “Everything that can drive, drives,” said the minister.
Rail transport has not really excelled in recent weeks as an alternative to the car. “If you don’t have a seat reservation, get out,” it read on several trains during the heavy Whitsun journeys.
Safety issues about overcrowded trains
“In principle, it is good if many people want to take the train,” said the Ministry of Climate Protection in the ORF “Pressure”, delighted that the more environmentally friendly means of transport was so well received. However, for safety reasons, it was simply not possible to run such overcrowded trains.
However, it would only concern individual trains during rush hour. As an immediate measure, the federal railways also responded “extensively” – Gewessler, for example, was satisfied with “reinforcement trains” or additional information on the platforms.
No mandatory reservation
The minister does not consider it expedient to counteract the enormous crowds with mandatory seat reservations. After all, it is important to maintain the “power of the open system” and to allow people to continue to travel by train without reservation, they say.
However, the status quo should not be maintained. Gewessler explained that four billion euros will be invested in new trains in the coming years. Long-distance transport capacity could be increased by a third by 2029.
No ban on combustion engines before 2035
With regard to the EU’s planned ban on internal combustion engines for cars from 2035, Gewessler sees little point in making faster progress towards a legally binding level in Austria. After all, the car registrations would take place at EU level. However, the sharp increase in the number of registrations for electric cars would make it possible to leave the combustion engine sooner.
In any case, diesel and petrol cars must continue to drive after 2035 if they are approved.
Source: Krone
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