European Foundation
for the Improvement of
Living and Working Conditions

The tripartite EU agency providing knowledge to assist
in the development of better social, employment and
work-related policies

EU PolicyWatch

Database of national-level policy measures

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

Public transport incentive

Klimaticket

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 13 March 2024)

Background information

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.

Content of measure

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).

Use of measure

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.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Does not apply to workers Does not apply to businesses Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
Local / regional government
National funds
Regional funds

Social partners

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
  • Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No involvement.

Views and reactions

Social partners generally welcome the implementation of the climate ticket.

Sources

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

Share

Eurofound publications based on EU PolicyWatch

30 January 2023

 

Measures to lessen the impact of the inflation and energy crisis on citizens

Governments across the EU continue to implement policies to support citizens and businesses in the face of rising food and energy prices caused by the COVID-19 crisis and intensified by the war in Ukraine. This article summarises the policy responses as reported in Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch database from January to September 2022.

Article

12 September 2022

 

First responses to cushion the impact of inflation on citizens

Although the worldwide pandemic situation had already disrupted supply chains and triggered increases in energy and food prices in 2021, the situation deteriorated in 2022 with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Article

12 September 2022

 

Policies to support EU companies affected by the war in Ukraine

This article summarises the first policy responses that governments across the EU have started to implement to support companies affected by the rising prices, and those with commercial ties to Ukraine, Russia or Belarus.

Article

5 July 2022

 

Policies to support refugees from Ukraine

This article summarises the first policy responses of EU Member States, including those of the social partners and other civil society actors, enabling refugees to exercise their rights under the Temporary Protection Directive.

Article

Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.