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Austrians top European league table for public transport use

The average Austrian resident rides the train, metro, and tram about twice as much as the EU average.

Published: 21 September 2023 14:00 CEST

Tram in Vienna

A tram in Vienna. Austrians ride the tram, metro and train more than almost all other Europeans. Photo by Jiamin Huang on Unsplash

The average resident of Austria rides uses public rail transport to travel 1,625 kilometres every single year, according to an analysis by The Austrian Transport Club (VCÖ) using European Commission data.

People in Austria come well ahead of second-placed France and third-places Czechia (Czech Republic) – where residents travel about 1,280 kilometers and 985 kilometers on public rail transport annually.

Public rail transport use is among Austrian residents is also almost double what it is in neighbouring Germany, where the average resident travels 825 kilometres on public rail every year.

Austria is also well ahead of last-placed Lithuania, with only 100 kilometres annually or Malta and Cyprus, which don’t have rail transport at all.

Public transport use is higher in all these countries that just the kilometres listed – as bus or ferry travel isn’t counted in the total.

VCÖ says despite the impressive numbers, Austrians shouldn’t get too comfortable. The association is calling for more government money to be invested in rail projects to meet Austria’s climate goals, including more trams to reduce traffic congestion and more regional connections.

“Due to increasingly flexible working hours and increased part-time work, more frequent connections are also needed outside of classic commute times,” VCÖ expert Michael Schwendinger told Kronen Zeitung newspaper. “In addition, optimal coordination between regional buses and trains is important for passengers.”

REVEALED: The best public transport discounts for tourists in Austria

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The essential rules you need to know for using Vienna's U-Bahn

Vienna is famous for having one of the most efficient subway networks in the world.

On top of that, it is one of the cheapest, and for only €365, you can get an annual ticket for the whole network.

Furthermore, getting around the city with public transport is easy and something enjoyed by many, but there are certain things you need to know in order to follow the rules.

Some rules for traveling within the subway system are unwritten, while others are written and listed on the website of Wiener Linien, the state’s public transport company.

Here we list some of the most important unwritten and written rules.

Buy a ticket and validate it

Vienna’s subway network does not have ticket barriers, and even though it may seem tempting to enter without a ticket, it is recommended not to do so. If you are caught by controllers from Wiener Linien, you will have to pay a fine of €103, and they are famous for not accepting any excuses.

Buying a ticket might not be too bad though, since Vienna is famous for its affordable public transport system. Apart from the considerably cheap yearly ticket, you can also buy a monthly ticket for €51, a day ticket for €5.80, a weekly ticket for €17.10, and a single ticket for €2.40. All prices are available on Wiener Linien’s website.

After buying your ticket, always remember to validate it in one of the validation boxes, which are normally placed at the entrance of a U-Bahn station. If you do not do this, your ticket has no value, and you will face the same fines as if you had not bought it. You can also choose to validate them after as you are buying them.

Stand on the right side of escalators

In Vienna, there is an unwritten rule that says you should stand on the right side when using escalators at subway stations. People who do not follow this rule are immediately identified as tourists by the locals.

If you are caught standing on the left side, be prepared to face annoyed facial expressions and some aggressive “Excuse me!” (Entschuldigung!) to make you move as fast as possible to the other side.

Always stand on the right side of the escalators. Photo by 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝘙𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘳 on Unsplash.

Buy a ticket for your dog, and use a muzzle

Dogs are allowed in the subway, and if you have a yearly ticket, your dog can join your travel for free. If not, you have to buy an extra ticket, except for when the dog is so small that it can be placed in a dog carrier.

All dogs need to wear a muzzle and be on a leash if you do not want to face a fine – if they are small enough, they can be carried in a carrying basket or container.

Don’t drink alcohol or eat smelly food

You are not allowed to drink alcohol while using the Viennese public transport.

Eating is allowed, but even though there are many food stands at the subway stations, it is not the best idea to feast on a smelly kebab or sausage inside of the subway. If you do so, you tend to get disapproving looks from other passengers.

Do not put your feet on the seat in front of you

This is an unwritten rule for all public transports in Austria. If ticket inspectors catch you with your feet placed on the seat, you can expect both a telling-off and sometimes also a fine for ‘Verschmutzung’ (dirtying the seat).

Don’t smoke e-cigarettes or skate around the stations

You are not allowed to smoke anything inside of Vienna’s public transport system, including electronic cigarettes. You are also not allowed to bike, rollerblade, or skate inside the stations and subways. You can bring your bike, roller blades or skateboard on the subway by carrying or leading them. Bikes are allowed to travel with you during certain hours.

Do not try to talk to strangers

Small talk is not something common while traveling on the Viennese subway. Trying to make conversation with a stranger is seen as more strange rather than polite.

If you definitely want some contact with other passengers, stick to short eye contact and a discreet smile; if you overdo it, it tends to be frowned upon. In general, keep to your own business like most locals.

READ NEXT: Train travel in Austria – The best day trips from Vienna

Don’t try to open already closed doors

If you use the subway frequently, you will come across people rushing to subways that are about to leave and trying to open the doors even if they are closed. It is recommended not to do this since you hurt yourself and others. Also, there is no reason to perform this dramatic action since the next subway is likely to arrive within 4-5 minutes.

Do not play loud music

Even if you forgot your headphones, do not consider playing music out loud. This will not only annoy everyone around you but also means that you are breaking the rules since it is actually not allowed. Doing this can lead to a fine or might temporary ban you from using the U-Bahn network.

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