Graz main station takes third in Austria-wide passenger survey

Graz main station ranked third among Austria’s major railway stations in this year’s passenger survey by the Verkehrsclub Österreich, a transport club, ORF reported. Mariazell station won the category for smaller stations.

About 13,300 passengers rated stations on trains and online using 16 criteria. Graz scored particularly well for access on foot, by bicycle and public transport, as well as for accessibility, ticket-machine availability and passenger information. St. Pölten main station ranked first, ahead of Vienna West station.

Schladming ranked sixth among larger stations outside the state capitals. Other Styrian stations in the top 20 were Feldbach in ninth place, Mürzzuschlag in 10th, Leibnitz in 11th, Zeltweg in 12th, Gleisdorf in 14th, Weiz in 18th and Deutschlandsberg Stadt in 20th.

Mariazell led the ranking of smaller stations. Peggau-Deutschfeistritz ranked 13th, followed by Unzmarkt in 14th, Übelbach Vormarkt in 15th, Werndorf in 17th and Wildon in 18th.

The survey also identified areas for improvement. Thirty-eight percent of Styrian passengers called for better public transport access to stations outside peak hours, while 40 percent wanted more flexible services such as on-demand buses and shared taxis. Overall, 84 percent said they were satisfied with their departure station.

However, 27 percent were dissatisfied with station cleanliness, 28 percent with waiting areas and weather protection, and 46 percent with toilets and sanitary facilities.