There are occasional overbooked planes in aviation. Then some passengers have to stay behind. In rail traffic, it often happens that far more passengers want to ride than there are seats. Train bosses then have to take action again and again.

Contrary to popular belief, the responsibility for safety on trains does not lie with the train driver, but with the train manager. It is this person who, for example, gives the driver the “okay” to depart after boarding. One of the rather unpleasant tasks of this professional group is that measures have to be taken in the event of overcrowding.

The core problem lies in the fact that, for example, the Austrian Federal Railways – apart from a few exceptions – do not have a reservation obligation. Standard tickets and network tickets such as the climate ticket are not tied to a specific train. In theory, you can get into any wagon and ride with it. But when too many people want to travel at the same time, problems arise. Anyone who has then bought a seat reservation in advance has an advantage in any case, because the ride is then almost certain.

Train managers are responsible for ensuring that the train can be exited quickly, even in emergencies. In the event of overcrowding, these people without a seat reservation must ask to get off. Naturally, passengers resist, especially when this takes place in regional transport, where there is no possibility to reserve. The idea that the ÖBB should simply add an additional wagon is not that easy to implement. The law stipulates that a train manager may look after a maximum of seven wagons. Although he is mostly subordinate to other train attendants, popularly also known as conductors, a second train manager must be deployed from the eighth wagon onwards, who incidentally has to take an official examination as part of his training.

In recent weeks, various media reports have accused ÖBB train managers of having ordered arbitrary evictions. Some of the situations were so piquant that the police had to be called in to help. The railway workers' union Vida clearly supports its members: "If a train has to be cleared due to overcrowding, then it is clear that our colleagues act strictly in accordance with the specified safety guidelines. It is also not a pleasant situation for an employee to have to clear a train. Something like this only happens after careful consideration of all the risks, but never arbitrarily,” says Günter Blumthaler, Chairman of the Railway Department. “After all, the problem was already well known before the pandemic years. It's no secret that these are specific trains on specific routes, especially at peak times."

The employee representatives are also calling on politicians to increase the number of employees accordingly in view of the focus on the railways. There is an urgent need to train new engine drivers, train attendants, train managers and other professional groups necessary for safe railway operations.

Gerhard Tauchner from the Vida Lokfahrdienst: "A lack of staff and a lack of recordings in the train attendant service must not be compensated for by a double burden on the train drivers as the railway supervisory body alone responsible for safety in the regional trains. When it comes to this topic, the top priority is always the safety of employees and passengers. In the regional trains in the entire eastern region, this has not been the case for years, with the exception of a few trains such as the double-decker trains in the prevailing operation without train conductors.