ÖBB to take over station maintenance from Tyrol municipalities
Friday 21st August 2026 on 14:00 in
Austria
ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG will take over maintenance and upkeep at many railway stations in Tyrol from January 1, 2027, relieving municipalities of the responsibility, ORF reported on Friday. The state of Tyrol will also make a one-off payment of 1.36 million euros to the railway operator.
The agreement covers municipalities with ÖBB stops that began operating before 2025 and have facilities such as toilets or lifts. From January 2027, all Tyrolean municipalities with ÖBB stations containing infrastructure that requires maintenance will be exempt from the duty to look after it.
The responsibilities include passenger lifts, toilet facilities, winter services and cutting greenery in access areas to platforms. Stations without facilities such as toilets or passenger lifts are not covered by the new arrangement.
The state and federal governments reached the agreement after negotiations to transfer responsibility from municipalities to the federal government. Transport Minister Peter Hanke said the deal would ease the burden on municipalities and cities while creating clearer responsibilities and simpler processes.
The arrangement brings stations that opened before 2025 into line with a nationwide regulation applying to stations opened after that date. Under that regulation, ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG is responsible for ongoing operations and maintenance instead of transferring those duties to the municipality where the station is located.
Tyrol Governor Anton Mattle said the agreement would also place municipalities with older stations on an equal footing. Transport Councillor Rene Zumtobel said the new overall responsibility would ensure a uniform standard at all stops and allow synergies to be used.
Stations affected include those in Schwaz, Fritzens-Wattens, Rum, Innsbruck Messe, Kirchberg in Tirol, Telfs-Pfaffenhofen and Lienz.
The agreement does not cover the operation and maintenance of facilities in the immediate surroundings of stations, including park-and-ride and bike-and-ride facilities. Those arrangements will continue to be regulated separately.