
Austrian Railways (ÖBB) plans to recruit an average of 4,100 new staff annually until 2030 as it braces for an anticipated wave of retirements and continues to expand its services.
Around 29% of ÖBB’s workforce still hold lifetime contracts, a practice that was discontinued in 1995. Speaking at the Economic Journalists’ Club in Vienna, ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä said that within the next decade, the last of these employees will retire.
In 2023 alone, 1,500 staff left the company, and by 2030, that number is expected to reach 10,000.
Recruitment Drive
Last year, ÖBB took on 6,200 new employees, bringing its total workforce to 45,520, including staff absorbed through the acquisition of a regional German rail operator.
The company offers roles across 130 professions, with around 2,000 apprentices currently training in 28 fields. Roughly three-quarters of those who complete their apprenticeships go on to secure permanent positions within the organisation.
Service Expansion
The need for new recruits also reflects ÖBB’s ongoing service expansion. Following a steady year in 2025, the company expects transport volumes to increase in 2026, spurred by the opening of the Koralm Railway Tunnel. The new route is set to reduce journey times and improve travel comfort for passengers travelling between Vienna, Graz, and Klagenfurt.
However, the expansion will also necessitate additional interregional services, particularly in the Mur Valley and along the Pyhrn Railway.
Cross-Border Challenges
Despite progress at home, ÖBB continues to face challenges caused by disruptions abroad. “Fifty per cent of all delays were caused in other countries,” Matthä said. Strikes in Germany and closures along the crucial “German corner route” have created significant difficulties for Austrian domestic rail services.
Further disruptions are expected in the coming years. The Passau-Regensburg line in Germany is scheduled to close in 2026, followed by the Regensburg-Nuremberg line in 2027. Planning for alternative routes is already underway.