“I understand the demands of the railway workers and also the strike. At least more than for the climate activists who stick to the streets” – Marianne Wiesinger (51) from Feldkirchen spoke almost prophetic words during the local inspection “Krone” on the day of the strike in Ottensheim when she got on the train instead waiting for the bus. An hour later, three activists sat on the Hafenstrasse exit of the A7 in Linz and blocked it. “Are you serious now?” asked an irritated commuter .
But the effects of the strike and blockade were less than feared or hoped – depending on your point of view. The commuters – some 27,000 of them travel daily only on local rail transport in Upper Austria and depended on alternatives – had adapted well to the situation, most of them had previously traveled by car or bus – it was a almost normal monday on the road .
Unusual amount of space
There was dead silence on the platforms all over the country, in Wels the station was almost completely deserted. It was noticeable that hardly anyone who had transferred from train to bus got off at the nearby bus station. And there was an unusual amount of space in the Park&Ride car parks near the platforms.
Tourists were looking for connections
The situation at the main station in Linz was similar when the local inspection “Krone” took place during the actual rush hour, right in the morning. Only a few were surprised by the strike – mainly non-German speakers. For example, an Asian tourist asked at the information point how to get to Hamburg. Overall, though, the employee had a quiet morning there. Around 8:30 am, about 20 people needed help. And that despite the fact that 150 trains were canceled between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. in Linz.
In Wels there were 95 and in Attnang-Puchheim 75. “It’s stupid of me, because otherwise I can’t get to work. None of my colleagues are from Linz”, Miss Dagmar Ortmair was looking for an alternative when she was still there.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
