Austria to launch a single ticket for all public transport

Austria will introduce a single ticket that should give access to all public transport across the nation for just under 1,000 EUR per year. 

This August, Minister of Climate Action, Mobility and Environment, Leonore Gewessler, announced the new 'Klimaticket' will be valid from 26 October in six Austrian states, while the other three – including Vienna – have not yet joined. Gewessler expects the new "climate ticket" will encourage people to switch from cars to buses and trains, thus contributing in the fight of pollution and climate change.

“Every kilometre travelled by public transport protects the climate,” emphasised Gewessler, “and our climate ticket is a revolution for public transport. Public transport has never been so easy and so inexpensive.”

The Verkehrsclub Österreich (VCÖ) has calculated the climate ticket as a network card will be cheaper than numerous route cards for commuters today. For example, the routes Bruck an der Mur - Graz, Kapfenberg - Graz and Judenburg - Graz including city traffic cost significantly more at 1,473 EUR. In total, the ministry expects there are around 100,000 Austrians who are currently paying more for their commuter tickets.

The new KlimaTicket will be on sale from 1 October 2021. It is valid for one year from a date of the purchaser’s choice, but not before 26 October. During the pre-sale period, which last until 26 October, a discount on the KlimaTicket applies. During this period, it costs 949 EUR (instead of 1,095 EUR). For a one-time additional charge of 110 EUR, the ticket holder can take up to four children between the ages of 6 and 15 with them. For senior citizens, people with disabilities and everyone under the age of 26 the ticket costs 699 EUR (instead of 821 EUR) for one year.

The ticket can be used on any scheduled service (public and private-sector rail services, urban passenger services and integrated public transport services) in Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Carinthia, Tyrol and Vorarlberg. In addition, the ticket can also be used for journeys operated by ÖBB and Westbahn, as well as for S-Bahn trains in Vienna.

The federal states of Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland, which are organised in the Verkehrsverbund Ostregion (VOR), are not yet on board with their local public transport such as buses, trams and underground trains. According to the states and the VOR, the proposal for their participation in the KlimaTicket lacks sufficient proposals regarding long-term financing, the organisation of sales and the expansion of the infrastructure.

The Ministry of Transport is confident that an agreement will be reached with the three federal states. “The introduction of the new annual ticket should be only an intermediate step until the three missing regions join the initiative,” said the minister. The federal government has allocated 96 million EUR for the program this year, an item that will grow to 150 million in 2022. The three states have criticised the step to launch the KlimaTicket ahead of their participation, but stressed that with the good will of all partners the introduction of the KlimaTicket in their states would be still possible this year.

For more information: https://www.klimaticket.at/en/