Vienna rail passengers demand fewer disruptions and better connections

Vienna rail passengers want significant improvements to train services, according to a survey by ORF and the Verkehrsclub Österreich, an Austrian transport club. Cancellations, disruptions and poor coordination between buses and trains were the passengers’ most common complaints.

The survey questioned 11,257 passengers on trains operated by nine railway companies. Almost half said the price-performance ratio had worsened over the past 12 months, while train staff received the highest ratings.

Among Vienna passengers, 49 percent said they had experienced more cancellations and disruptions than in the previous year. Forty percent reported worse coordination between buses and trains, and 44 percent saw a deterioration in value for money. One in three passengers was dissatisfied with punctuality.

Passengers reported the greatest improvements in information and service, as well as in booking and reservation options. Many Vienna residents used trains for trips to the countryside, although almost half missed connecting services several times a year.

Train staff received particularly positive ratings: 98 percent of passengers described them as helpful and friendly. Eighty-two percent said the presence of train staff had improved.

Train travel was also popular for holidays. In the previous 12 months, 48 percent of Vienna passengers travelled on a daytime train for a holiday and 21 percent used a night train. Transport club expert Michael Schwendinger said this was by far the highest figure compared with passengers in other provinces.