"Climate ticket" applicable in almost the whole of Austria from 26.10.2021

Sept 1, 2021 Benn-Ibler Rechtsanwälte

On August 18, 2021, the way was paved for a comprehensive tariff reform with the publication of the decree BGBl. II No. 363/2021 "Implementation of the Climate Ticket" in the Federal Law Gazette. This is an implementation regulation which further elaborates the adopted legal framework "Federal Act on the Introduction of the Climate Ticket" of March 25, 2021.

The "climate ticket" (Klimaticket) will be valid from 26 October 2021. Currently, the ticket covers every means of public transport in Vorarlberg, Tyrol, Salzburg, Carinthia, Styria and Upper Austria. In addition, all ÖBB trains including Vienna S-Bahn connections, trains of the Westbahn and Regiojet will be able to be used with the ticket.

Negotiations are currently underway with the Transport Association of the Eastern Region (Verkehrsverbund der Ostregion, VOR). This is the largest transport association in Austria and unites all public transport in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland. VOR has about 1 billion passengers per year and thus covers 60% of Austria's passengers. A VOR press release of June 30, 2021 states that in particular the planned budget is the reason for the prolonged negotiations. According to VOR, the current financing proposal would not even begin to cover the projected revenue losses in the hundreds of millions due to the tariff reform.

The decree of Federal Minister Gewessler provides for a compensation model for the transport providers. The amounts are calculated in a three-step procedure according to the model created for this purpose in Supplement 2 of the decree BGBl. II No. 363/2021. In its press release, the VOR warns that the mobility turnaround must be fully financed. Not only does this require a complete compensation of the loss of revenue, but further supply measures for the additional passengers gained through the tariff reform have to be provided in order to prevent overcrowding of public transport.

Sources:

Decree BGBI. II No. 363/2021 "Implementation of the Climate ticket" (18.08.2021)

VOR Press Release (30.06.2021)