Recently, there have been reports of overcrowded trains and passengers who had to get off again. The ÖBB would therefore like to examine all options to solve this problem.

The utilization of ÖBB train sets is increasing continuously - especially in long-distance traffic. Not least because of this, the state railway is examining other options – including the mandatory seat reservation: “We are looking at all the options,” said an ÖBB spokesman in the “Kurier” (Tuesday edition). Most recently, various international models were analyzed and the company's own passengers were asked about reservations.

In the next few weeks everything will be brought together and then a decision will be made on how to proceed. All options are on the table, from mandatory reservations to measures to move short-haul travelers from long-distance to local trains and thereby free up capacity. One thing is already certain: The real-time information about the occupancy of trains will be expanded. Here, for example, it is also about specific information about alternative trains with lower occupancy.

More and more people are taking the train

The waning of the pandemic, high fuel prices and the climate ticket annual pass have caused the number of rail travelers to rise sharply again this year after the slump in 2020 and 2021. In long-distance transport, capacity utilization has already been slightly above the pre-crisis level in recent weeks. Especially in cross-border long-distance traffic - both in the day and in the night trains - there is a "particularly strong demand", said the ÖBB to the APA these days.

On busy travel weekends such as Ascension Day, Pentecost and Corpus Christi, ÖBB is providing up to 10.000 additional seats with more sets and extra trains. According to the spokesman, more should not be possible for cost reasons, the “Kurier” quoted him as saying. Complaints about overcrowded trains have recently increased. There were repeated evictions.