Feldkirch tops station test as Bregenz ranks last again

Feldkirch railway station received the highest rating among stations outside Austria’s state capitals in this year’s VCÖ station test, while Bregenz again came last among the major stations in state capitals, ORF reported.

Feldkirch took first place ahead of Lienz in the category for stations outside state capitals that passengers considered the most attractive. Rankweil also reached the top 15, placing 11th.

Hohenems was rated the second-best larger station outside a state capital, behind Lienz. Passengers particularly praised its connections by public transport and bicycle, its bicycle parking and the availability of ticket machines.

Rankweil placed seventh among the best-rated larger stations outside state capitals. Passengers gave especially positive marks to access on foot and by bicycle, as well as accessibility for people with disabilities.

Bregenz again ranked last among the major stations in state capitals. Passengers rated access on foot, by bicycle and by public transport positively, but gave significantly lower ratings to accessibility, cleanliness, toilets and sanitary facilities, and the station’s structural condition.

Overall, 72 percent of passengers in Vorarlberg said they were satisfied with their station of departure. However, 36 percent were dissatisfied with weather protection and waiting areas, 39 percent with cleanliness, and 58 percent with toilets and sanitary facilities.

Passengers also saw room for improvement in public transport connections outside peak hours, with 36 percent calling for better access to stations at those times. A further 38 percent wanted more flexible mobility services, such as demand-responsive buses and shared taxis.

Forty percent of passengers travelled to the station on foot, 30 percent by public transport and 15 percent by bicycle. Vorarlberg therefore had the highest share of bicycle arrivals among Austria’s provinces. For the journey from the station to their destination, 46 percent walked, 37 percent used public transport and nine percent cycled.