1-2-3 Ticket: Austria's nationwide rail pass to be further delayed
The wait for the 1-2-3 Ticket - Austria's rail pass which allows for nationwide travel - is set to go on longer, due to resistance from one Austrian state.
The third stage of the “1-2-3 ticket”, or a ticket which would be valid on all public transport in the whole of Austria, is no nearer to completion.
Authorities had hoped to release the ticket at some point in 2021, however a new series of disputes may push back the release date further.
Broadcaster ORF says the fact that no solution has yet been found is also due to the resistance of the federal state of Burgenland.
The complaint relates to the fact that the ticket would dramatically increase the cost of travelling from Burgenland to Vienna.
As travelling from Burgenland to Vienna involves crossing Lower Austria, the price of a season ticket from Neudörfl to Vienna, for example, which currently costs 730 euros, would increase to 1,095 euros per year under the new scheme.
The idea behind the 1-2-3 ticket is that Austrian residents can choose to pay one euro per day for unlimited public transport in their own state, two euros per day for travel in two neighbouring states or three euros per day to travel throughout Austria.
This thereby builds upon the annual 365 Ticket, which gives access to public transport all across Vienna for €365 per year.
While this may improve the situation for people who travel in their own state or travel regularly to a neighbouring state, those who cross three or more states are set to feel the brunt.
Politicians in Burgenland are pushing for a compromise, which would keep costs closer to their current level.
An estimated 25,000 people commute regularly from Burgenland to Vienna, based on pre-pandemic numbers.
The Eastern Region Transport Association (Verkehrsverbund Ostregion), which manages transport networks in Burgenland, Lower Austria and Vienna, also wants more money for implementation of the scheme.
Transport Provincial Councilor Heinrich Dorner said the "minister must set up the budgetary resources accordingly".
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The third stage of the “1-2-3 ticket”, or a ticket which would be valid on all public transport in the whole of Austria, is no nearer to completion.
Authorities had hoped to release the ticket at some point in 2021, however a new series of disputes may push back the release date further.
Broadcaster ORF says the fact that no solution has yet been found is also due to the resistance of the federal state of Burgenland.
The complaint relates to the fact that the ticket would dramatically increase the cost of travelling from Burgenland to Vienna.
As travelling from Burgenland to Vienna involves crossing Lower Austria, the price of a season ticket from Neudörfl to Vienna, for example, which currently costs 730 euros, would increase to 1,095 euros per year under the new scheme.
The idea behind the 1-2-3 ticket is that Austrian residents can choose to pay one euro per day for unlimited public transport in their own state, two euros per day for travel in two neighbouring states or three euros per day to travel throughout Austria.
This thereby builds upon the annual 365 Ticket, which gives access to public transport all across Vienna for €365 per year.
While this may improve the situation for people who travel in their own state or travel regularly to a neighbouring state, those who cross three or more states are set to feel the brunt.
Politicians in Burgenland are pushing for a compromise, which would keep costs closer to their current level.
An estimated 25,000 people commute regularly from Burgenland to Vienna, based on pre-pandemic numbers.
The Eastern Region Transport Association (Verkehrsverbund Ostregion), which manages transport networks in Burgenland, Lower Austria and Vienna, also wants more money for implementation of the scheme.
Transport Provincial Councilor Heinrich Dorner said the "minister must set up the budgetary resources accordingly".
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