ÖBB plans to let foreign-based drivers continue trains into Villach

Austria’s ÖBB plans to use drivers employed by its foreign subsidiaries on cross-border services, allowing them to continue beyond the border rather than handing over to an Austrian-based driver, ORF reported. The rail operator says the change would make international services easier to plan and more efficient.

The union vida said the plans concern freight trains from Slovenia and Italy. It cited five current cases and said drivers from ÖBB’s Croatian subsidiary are being trained to work in the Villach region.

Thomas Pippan, chair of the drivers’ works council in Villach and a member of vida’s regional board, warned that the move could gradually displace local employees through transfers within the ÖBB group. He said he feared the number of foreign-based drivers would grow, putting jobs in Villach at risk and creating pressure on wages.

ÖBB rejected the claim that jobs or its Villach location were at risk. A spokesperson said the company was internationalising training and building skills for cross-border services, and that qualified Slovenian drivers could in future operate international trains across the border without a driver change. The company said no jobs in Villach would be cut or relocated.