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ÖBB and City of Vienna extend free train travel for Ukrainian refugees

The measure has been extended to the end of October. It includes travel on ÖBB trains and Wiener Linien services.

Published: 4 October 2022 16:41 CEST

ÖBB and City of Vienna extend free train travel for Ukrainian refugees

Vienna Central Station (Photo by JOE KLAMAR / AFP)

Austria’s national rail operator ÖBB has confirmed Ukrainian refugees can continue using public transport free of charge until the end of October.

Ukrainians must show a travel document as proof of status to use the transport network.

Additionally, Ukrainian refugees can continue using Wiener Linien services and the Verkehrsverbund Ostregion (VOR) public transport for free until October 31st.

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However, from November, only Ukrainian refugees arriving in Austria for the first time will be able to travel for free.

The announcement was made on Tuesday October 4th in Vienna after a consultation with the Ministry of Transport.

City Councillor Peter Hacker (SPÖ) said the decision to extend the offer on the Wiener Linien was “consistent with the nationwide decision of the ÖBB”, reports Die Presse.

Parallel dazu unterstützen wir die Bemühungen des Flüchtlingskoordinators für eine österreichweite und längerfristige Lösung zu Fahrtkosten für Personen in Grundversorgung. Aktuell können nur Kosten für bestimmte Fahrten rückerstattet werden. /2

— Stadt Wien (@Stadt_Wien) October 4, 2022

Stadt Wien made the announcement on Twitter and added: “At the same time, we support the efforts of the refugee coordinator for an Austria-wide and long-term solution to travel costs for people in need. Currently, only costs for certain journeys can be reimbursed.”

According to Die Presse, ÖBB has issued around 390,000 free tickets to Ukrainian refugees since the start of the war in February.

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Austria's ÖBB announces new train timetable for summer

ÖBB is using the summer for construction work in the country’s east. A new timetable will apply on some railway lines in Vienna and Lower Austria from June 29th to September 2nd, the Austrian rail company announced on Tuesday.

There will be no trains between Floridsdorf and Praterstern. Instead, a rail replacement service with buses will be provided. A reduced train service is available between Praterstern and Liesing. Wiener Linien will accept ÖBB tickets on selected alternative routes.

Trains on the REX1 line (Floridsdorf—Gänserndorf —Břeclav route) will be diverted at longer intervals via Vienna Stadlau and Vienna Simmering. All other trains north of Vienna start and end in Floridsdorf or are cancelled.

READ ALSO: The seaside destinations you can reach without a car or plane from Austria

The trains on the S1 line with the destination and departure station Marchegg are cancelled between Vienna Süßenbrunn and Marchegg. A rail replacement service will be set up between Vienna Süßenbrunn and Gänserndorf. The S1 trains travelling to/from Gänserndorf every hour according to the annual timetable will be extended to/from Marchegg.

Timetable changes will occur on the southern line between Vienna and Wiener Neustadt Hbf. Trains will not run on the section between Bad Vöslau and Leobersdorf, and long-distance trains will be diverted.

Those on the CJX9 line start and end at Vienna Central Station and will be diverted between there and Wiener Neustadt. Therefore, the stops in Vienna Matzleinsdorfer Platz and Baden will be cancelled.

Replacement buses

ÖBB is organising rail replacement services with buses for the following route sections:

Leobersdorf – Bad Vöslau
Leobersdorf – Mödling for the suburban trains
Wiener Neustadt Hbf – Felixdorf for trains on line R95
Wiener Neustadt Hbf – Wien Liesing (for the night-time closure from 23:25 to 04:00)

The Railjet and CAT connections and the Vienna Airport Lines buses will continue to run to Vienna Airport. There will be timetable changes on the S7 line. Trains on the REX7 line will be cancelled. From Fischamend to Wolfsthal, trains will be replaced by buses.

ÖBB launches information campaign

To offer passengers planning security and to inform customers comprehensively and promptly about rail replacement services, alternative routes and timetables, ÖBB is launching a comprehensive information campaign in May, the company added.

Advertisements in daily and district media, information posters at railway stations, customer guides, and distribution campaigns for a particular information folder before and during the closure period will help travellers find the proper connection.

READ ALSO: Five European cities you can reach from Austria in less than five hours by train

Municipalities and residents affected by construction work are informed electronically or by post about disruptions such as noise, dust and increased lorry traffic on construction site access roads.

Travellers can find information on the timetable at www.oebb.at, www.oebb.at/baustellen, 05-1717 and on the SCOTTY mobile app. Information on the Vienna S-Bahn upgrade can also be found at www.s-bahn.wien.

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