Austria’s train stations – otherwise full of life – were almost deserted on Monday. Thousands were late because of the strike.
Some commuters may have had a sleepless night because of the warning strike, but there was no major chaos. And that – also to the surprise of the two major automotive organizations ÖAMTC and ARBÖ – with a few exceptions (see graph below) at many traffic intersections. Making the situation even worse then, in Graz, Innsbruck and Linz, the “Last Generation” activists took advantage of the “poor moment” at 8 a.m. sharp and caused additional inconvenience and delays to the already suffering drivers on their way to work. The police quickly removed the climate stickers from the streets. Only Vienna was spared from the action this time.
In the federal capital, however, Fridays for Future supporters showed solidarity and moved with strikers from the Matzleinsdorfer Platz location to the Chamber of Commerce.
“Everything is calm”, meanwhile signaled the ÖBB, which managed to avert the worst with forward-looking information. Yet hundreds of students couldn’t make it to class, thousands of commuters didn’t get to work on time. Spokesman Peter Kleemann reported from Vienna Airport “no irregularities, travelers are reaching their flights because the City Airport Train offered a rail replacement service and the bus line of Vienna Airport Lines also ran according to schedule and above all undisturbed.”
Only a few stranded travelers or travelers who did not want to accept the complete standstill wandered through the gaping empty station halls. Lucky for you, at least there was food for sale. Because despite the loss of customers, most stores remained open. Late in the evening, the “strike traffic jams” gradually dissolved.
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.
