Faced with the constant increase in CO₂ emissions from automobiles, Austria intends to promote the ‘climate ticket': an unlimited annual subscription for all public transport in the country, from city buses to high-speed trains.
Faced with the constant increase in CO₂ emissions from cars, the Austrian Government wants to convince more citizens to use public transport. The Alpine nation is betting on the so-called ‘climate ticket‘: an unlimited annual pass for all public transport in the country, from city buses to high-speed trains.
“The ‘climate ticket' is a wonderful solution. I take the Linz-Vienna route often. Of course, it saves a lot of time, because the train is faster,” says Ruperta, a citizen living in Vienna.
The annual subscription costs the equivalent of three euros per day; an advantageous price, given the high fuel costs.
“I live in the state of Lower Austria, and I only go to work by train, but then I use the ticket in Vienna for other means of transport such as the bus and tram,” says Marc, a citizen living in Hollabrunn.
“The ‘climate ticket' has been available in Austria for a couple of years. After the initial success, demand seems to have stagnated. Just under 3% of the population currently owns this nationwide annual pass,” says Johannes Pleschberger, Euronews correspondent.
Christine decided not to buy the ‘climate ticket', and instead buys individual train tickets when she needs them, as she can only get to her workplace by car.
“I can't imagine that we, as a family, will ever do without the car. I think that, especially in rural areas, people will need a car for a longer period of time,” says Christine, a citizen living in Velm.
Although Austrians are the EU citizens who travel the most by train, some areas of the country remain poorly connected, especially in the mountains. However, for some organisations, the ‘climate ticket' is a huge success.
“Satisfaction analyzes have shown that the main reason for buying this ‘climate ticket' is to no longer have to worry about buying tickets. In other words, it's about convenience. You have this pass, you can get on and simply use the transport I think that has to be, more or less, the goal of all transport providers in Europe,” says Michael Schwendinger, member of the NGO ‘Verkehrsclub Österreich'.
“For a few months now, in Germany, there has also been a similar subscription. Thus, the concept of a ‘climate ticket' is expanding,” concludes Euronews correspondent in Vienna, Johannes Pleschberger.
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