Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Factsheet for measure AT-2021-44/3506 – measures in Austria
Country | Austria , applies nationwide |
Time period | Open ended, started on 26 October 2021 |
Context | Green Transition |
Type | Other initiatives or policies |
Category |
Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery into a green future
– Sustainable mobility |
Author | Bernadette Allinger (Forba) and Eurofound |
Measure added | 29 February 2024 (updated 09 January 2025) |
In 2012, a ticket for the use of public transport in Vienna at a (compared to previous ticket prices, very low) cost of €365 ('€1 per day') was implemented (with the Green Party in the city government). In the coalition negotiations for the federal government 2019/2020 between the conservative People's Party and the Green Party, the latter called for the inclusion of an Austria-wide public transport ticket in the government programme.
After one and a half years of preparation and negotiations, advance sales of the so-called "KlimaTicket Ö" began on 1 October 2021, with the first day of validity being the 26 October 2021. The ticket is valid in all public transport services all over Austria and includes travel on regular services throughout Austria for one year (public and private rail transport, urban transport and transport associations; only tourist rides ( e.g. Schneebergbahn) are excluded). In its first month of sales, reduced prices applied of €949 for the regular ticket and €699 for the reduced ticket (for those aged up to 25 and those 65 years and older, as well as for those with restricted mobility). Specific family tickets also apply (at the additional cost of €110, up to four children (not necessarily family members) may be accompany the adult with the ticket without costs). Since then, the prices of €1,095 and €821 (reduced tariff) have remained the same and are set not to change until 2025. The price of €1,095 was set so that the daily price would lie at €3 (€3x365=€1,095). All those doing the (mandatory) military or civil service, as well as participants in voluntary services (voluntary social year and voluntary environmental protection year) get the ticket free of charge. Since 2022, regional climate tickets are available (for the Austrian provinces), as well (at lower costs).
The Climate Ticket was very well received and quickly exceeded all expectations in advance sales. Over 125,000 climate tickets were sold in October 2021 alone. As of December 2022, 215,000 tickets had been sold. In October 2023, there were around 262,000 users. In September 2024, there were over 300,000 users.
Workers | Businesses | Citizens |
---|---|---|
Does not apply to workers | Does not apply to businesses | Applies to all citizens |
Actors | Funding |
---|---|
National government
Local / regional government |
National funds
Regional funds |
Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:
Trade unions | Employers' organisations | |
---|---|---|
Role | No involvement as case not in social partner domain | No involvement as case not in social partner domain |
Form | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
No involvement.
Social partners generally welcome the implementation of the climate ticket.
Citation
Eurofound (2024), Public transport incentive, measure AT-2021-44/3506 (measures in Austria), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/AT-2021-44_3506.html
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