Punctuality in rail transport in 2022 below the statutory punctuality level
Agency for Passenger Rights analyzed data from the regulatory authority Schienen-Control, the rail infrastructure service company (SCHIG) and the network operator (ÖBB Infrastruktur) on a total of 21 million arrivals at transport stations in local and long-distance passenger transport.
Punctuality in local transport at 94.8 percent
The punctuality of ÖBB-Personenverkehr trains in 2022, taking into account train cancellations and unplanned rail replacement services, was 94.8%. This is just below the legally stipulated punctuality rate of 95% for local transport. A train is considered punctual in the evaluation if it is delayed by a maximum of five minutes and 29 seconds.
The main reason for this development was the recovery in passenger numbers following the COVID-19 pandemic. More passengers were transported than in 2021, which led to longer stop times or stop time overruns at the stations. The fewest punctual trains (90.2%) ran in November 2022 due to the rail strike on 28 November, which largely paralyzed public transport in Austria.
Trains in Vorarlberg are the most punctual, with an average punctuality rate of 96.6%. The last place in the punctuality ranking is shared by Upper Austria and Salzburg, each with a punctuality rate of 93.3 percent in local transport.
Most punctual connection in Lower Austria
The most punctual train service in Austria in 2022 was found in Traisental (Lilienfeld district) on the section between Schrambach and Traisen. Overall, ÖBB Personenverkehr achieved a punctuality rate of 98.8 percent on this route section despite the rail strike.
Challenges in Villach, the Upper Austrian central region and the Mühlviertel
Three sections of the route did not record a punctuality rate of more than 95% in any month last year. In Carinthia, the route between Villach and Tarvisio-Boscoverde (IT) stands out negatively. On average, the route to/from Italy recorded a punctuality rate of 75.6 percent. The months of June and August were particularly challenging, with only every second train arriving on time due to delays from abroad.
In Upper Austria, the analysis shows two routes where the legally required punctuality rate of 95% was not achieved in any month. The cross-border route from Pregarten to Horní Dvořiště (CZ) recorded a punctuality rate of 79.9 percent, while the route between Wels and Attnang-Puchheim recorded 87.6 percent. [nbsp]
Compensation for season tickets
If the value of 95 percent is not achieved in regional transport in at least one month, passengers receive compensation once a year at the end of the validity period of their annual ticket. [nbsp]While a punctuality rate of at least 95 percent applies to regional transport (urban transport is excluded from this regulation), rail companies that operate exclusively in long-distance transport (RegioJet, WESTbahn) generally set their own punctuality rate. WESTbahn, for example, currently has a punctuality rate of 92 percent.
If the statutory punctuality level of 95% (or 92% for the WESTbahn) is not achieved in a month, passengers with a Verbund annual ticket (or regional KlimaTicket) will receive compensation at the end of the annual ticket's validity period.
The KlimaTicket Österreich is a product of One Mobility Ticketing GmbH and is a supra-regional annual ticket. This ticket does not compensate for individual journeys or delays. A punctuality level of 93 percent has been set by law, below which a flat-rate compensation is paid after the validity period of the climate ticket has expired. Those affected are entitled to a maximum of ten percent of the compensation base in any one month. The basis for compensation is the ticket price minus the price shares for transportation on scheduled bus services (buses), urban transport and non-networked branch lines. Reimbursement contributions of less than four euros may be excluded from payment.
The regional Klimaticket the seven transport associations are to be distinguished from the KlimaTicket Austria. For this form of annual ticket, a statutory punctuality rate of 95% applies only to regional trains. If this level is not met in a month of validity, people with regional climate tickets will automatically receive a refund of at least ten percent of the fare of the rail portion of the ticket for that month from the respective rail company after registration.
With the ÖBB-Österreichcard, a confirmation or a reservation for the train affected by the delay must be presented for every delay of 30 minutes or more of a long-distance train used.
In the event of three proven delays, affected travelers will receive compensation from the rail company:[nbsp] 30 euros (1st class) or 20 euros (2nd class) each, up to a maximum of ten percent of the price of the Österreichcard.
You can find the apf punctuality report at: https://www.apf.gv.at/de/publikationen.html