ÖBB safety fears over outsourcing of rolling stock

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Business

Austria’s state railway system could be facing a multi-million pound bill if Italian officials are correct and that many of its goods wagons have got faulty wheels thanks to outsourcing in eastern Europe. According to a report on the Austrian state broadcaster the ORF, a Slovakian subsidiary firm of the rail company is responsible for […]

ÖBB ticket prices could climb

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Business

Federal Railways (ÖBB) tickets could be more expensive later this year. ÖBB CEO Christian Kern refused to rule out price hikes yesterday (Thurs). Kern pointed out that ÖBB did not up passenger tickets in the past four years. “We are not a charity organisation,” he said. Kern underlined that a further improvement of services was […]

All-clear for new railway tunnel

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Business

Decision-makers have defended the construction of the Semmering tunnel. Social Democratic (SPÖ) Traffic Minister Doris Bures praised the agreement between the provinces of Lower Austria and Styria, Federal Railways (ÖBB) and the state as an “important signal for future generations”. ÖBB boss Christian Kern pointed out that a train journey from Vienna to Graz would […]

ÖBB awaits €33bn

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Business

The Austrian government coalition has decided to inject more than 30 billion Euros into Federal Railways (ÖBB). Werner Faymann’s Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the team of People’s Party (ÖVP) ministers agreed yesterday (Weds) to support the railway company with 33 billion Euros. The money will be invested in the coming years. The subsidisation is supposed […]

Fuel price hikes make public transport more popular

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General News

More and more people are using means of public transport as car fuel prices hit a new high. Diesel cost 1.42 Euros on average last month, according to car club Arbö while the price for Eurosuper soared to 1.46 Euros. Arbö underlined that motorway service stations were charging up to 1.59 Euros for one litre […]

Unionist rubbishes ÖBB’s workforce concept

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Business

Federal Railways (ÖBB) works council chief Roman Hebenstreit has called on company bosses to show more honesty regarding the firm’s workforce level and staff salaries. Hebenstreit said on Saturday ÖBB continued cooperating with external enterprises about various services such as security at railroad construction sites while planning to lower the number of ÖBB staff by […]

Berlakovich blocks possible cutbacks

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Business

The pressure is increasing on People’s Party (ÖVP) Environment Minister Nikolaus Berlakovich as he keeps refusing to reduce spending on the agricultural sector. The environment and agriculture minister claimed yesterday (Tues) subsidies on the domestic agricultural industry were ensuring farmers’ existence. He warned that cuts could ruin the Austrian agricultural sector. His appeal comes after […]

DO&CO on track with ÖBB

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Business

A leading airline caterer will soon provide food for Federal Railways (ÖBB) customers, according to a newspaper. Die Presse reports today (Weds) that ÖBB picked DO&CO to manage on-board catering services of its long-distance trains from April. The state-funded railway company and the Viennese gastronomy enterprise were unavailable for comment. ÖBB is expected to reveal […]

ÖVP plans drastic spending cuts

Categories
Politics

People’s Party (ÖVP) chief Michael Spindelegger has pointed out that his party wants to restore the country’s public budget without tax increases. The foreign minister, who took over when Josef Pröll resigned as ÖVP chief in April 2011, said yesterday (Thurs) his faction found that the state debt could be lowered significantly by austerity measures. […]

ÖBB justifies ‘dumping prices’

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Business

Federal Railways (ÖBB) has defended the introduction of crash prices. A spokeswoman for the company said today (Fri) criticism of the latest move was “incomprehensible” since the customers would eventually benefit from it. ÖBB caused a stir by presenting a programme featuring 25,000 tickets for 15 Euros each for its western railway link connecting Vienna […]