Punctuality in Austrian rail transport remained “at a high level” in 2023, according to the Agency for Passenger Rights (apf).
This was achieved “despite challenging conditions, extreme weather, construction work, and delayed train handovers,” the apf said. A train is considered punctual if it arrives no more than five minutes and 29 seconds late. Trains delayed by five minutes and 30 seconds or more, as well as cancellations and unplanned bus replacements, are classed as late.
Over the year, the punctuality rate for Austria’s nationwide KlimaTicket (Climate Ticket) was 94.6%, although it dropped below the legally required threshold in July, August, September, and December. The required punctuality rate varies depending on the type of annual pass, the apf explained.
For regional Climate Tickets and route-specific annual passes, a monthly punctuality rate of at least 95% is required for regional trains. For the national Climate Ticket, the minimum rate is set at 93% for all regional and long-distance trains. To claim compensation, passengers must register for reimbursement at www.klimaticket.at or with ÖBB.
Long distance services
In long-distance travel, the Westbahn was the most punctual operator, according to the apf report, though its punctuality dropped from 88% to 83.7% compared to the previous year. “This was mainly due to the network expansion to Innsbruck and Bregenz, which caused delayed train transfers from abroad,” the agency noted.
ÖBB achieved a punctuality rate of 80.3% (down from 81.4% in 2022). The decline was attributed to a shortage of vehicles, weather events like a heavy snowfall in December, delayed train transfers from neighbouring countries, and construction work at the “German corner.” Regiojet, which runs between Prague, Vienna, and Budapest, had a punctuality rate of 64.4% in Austria, making it the least punctual long-distance rail company (compared to 53.7% in 2022).
Regional differences
Trains in Vorarlberg were the most punctual again in 2023 (96.6%). High punctuality rates were also recorded in Tyrol (95.9%) and Carinthia (95.8%). The least punctual region was Upper Austria, with a punctuality rate of 92.7% in ÖBB’s regional services. On a local level, trains on the route from Leobersdorf to Weißenbach-Neuhaus in Lower Austria reached 98.8% punctuality, making it Austria’s most punctual line. The lowest punctuality was on the Mühlviertel line from Pregarten to Horní Dvoriste on the Summerauerbahn, with 80.2%.
In Vienna, four routes saw 2.5 million arrivals. The Handelskai-Hütteldorf suburban line was the most punctual, with 98.3%, followed by the short route between Vienna Central Station and Meidling. The main S-Bahn route between Vienna Meidling and Vienna Floridsdorf did not reach a punctuality rate above 95% in any month. However, delays in urban transport and core zones of transport associations are legally excluded from compensation in ÖBB-Personenverkehr services.
Compensation
On compensation for annual pass holders, the apf clarified that individual delayed journeys are not compensated. Instead, if the required punctuality rate is not met in a month, a flat-rate compensation is provided after the annual pass expires. Affected passengers are entitled to 10% of the compensation base for that month, which is the portion of the ticket price for rail, minus the share for bus or urban transport. Amounts below four euros may be excluded from payment (de minimis limit).
