Alpine Trains Venture Into Space As The Final Frontier

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General News

Austria’s national railway line the OeBB has raised eyebrows after offering themed toilets including one that is supposed to “look and smell like outer space”. The futuristic looking space age toilet is meant to give the user “the feeling that they are in a spaceship in Earth’s orbit” and supposedly smell the same too. Critics […]

Parts of U4 underground to be closed in 2016 and 2017

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General News

Wiener Linien the operator of Vienna’s underground trains has announced that the U4 line is to undergo works and be modernised. As part of these modernising works parts of the U4 will have to be closed. From May until September 2016 no trains will travel between Hütteldorf and Schönbrunn – with the exception of May […]

Westbahn: customers satisfied

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Travel

According to a new survey, customers of the “Westbahn” appear to be pleased with the new railway service, but criticise the low numbers of trains. The company aims to balance the accounts this year. As their competitor ÖBB does not present the figures of turnover and profit on the route Vienna-Salzburg, Westbahn did not present […]

Vienna U6 hesitation may axe 300 jobs

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Business

Hundreds of jobs may be at risk if the Viennese government refuses to give the go-ahead for a 66-million-Euro assignment, according Bombardier Austria head Germar Wacker. The Viennese government coalition of Social Democrats (SPÖ) and Greens puts the order for 20 underground trains on hold to evaluate the assignment again due to empty city coffers. […]

ÖBB punctuality improves

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Business

The number of trains arriving on time in Austria is on the rise, it has been announced.Federal Railways (ÖBB) said today (Thurs) 94.2 per cent of all of its services were less than five minutes late last year, up from 90.5 per cent in 2009. The company added 97.6 per cent of its trains went […]

Warsaw train assignment for Siemens Austria

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Business

Siemens Austria has been contracted to produce 35 underground trains for a Polish city’s public transport network.The technology company announced today (Weds) that it was assigned by decision-makers in Warsaw to produce, deliver and install 35 of its Inspiro public transport vehicle models for 272 million Euros.Siemens Austria said it will start manufacturing the ordered […]

Vienna man’s foot gets stuck in U-Bahn door

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General News

An elderly man’s foot got stuck in the door of an underground train but the public transport vehicle did not stop for safety reasons, it has been reported.Viennese newspapers report today (Thurs) that a pensioner’s foot was trapped in the closing door of the U-Bahn when it left Reumannplatz station yesterday. The 69-year-old claims the […]

ÖBB secretly reduces validity of return tickets

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Business

Federal Railways (ÖBB) is in hot water after it emerged the company drastically reduced the validity period of return tickets.Austrian newspapers report today (Thurs) that return tickets are valid for just two days as of now instead of one month. Some dailies claim ÖBB did not inform its customers about the change at stations or […]

ÖBB rival Westbahn hopes for profits after five years

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Business

Westbahn boss Stefan Wehinger has said he hopes to make a profit five years after the new railway firm goes into operation.Wehinger said today (Tues): “We expect to achieve operative profits after five years. I have to say that I think many of those who have been in the business for a long time are […]

More fare dodgers caught in Vienna

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General News

The number of public transport fare dodgers caught this year has risen sharply in Vienna, new figures show.The city’s public transport operator Wiener Linien announced today (Mon) around 165,000 people were fined for using trams, buses and underground trains without valid tickets during the first 10 months of this year. Around 270 staff carried out […]