2023-09-12 06:22:33
Increased fuel prices and congested roads are causing worry for drivers. Meanwhile, the railway is benefiting from increased interest in its offerings.
In times of high fuel prices and countless construction sites on the roads of the Pongau, public transport is becoming an attractive alternative to private cars for many. “The greater use of public transport is not just a phenomenon in large metropolitan areas. In rural regions too, passenger numbers are constantly increasing and experience jumps when the transport offering improves,” explains Klaus Baumgartner, press spokesman for ÖBB. Offers such as the climate ticket or increased frequency – especially in Ennspongau – would further increase the effect, according to the federal railways. “Passenger numbers are developing very satisfactorily – especially in Ennspongau. The fact that the connections are now being used increasingly, especially at the stops that are not served by existing long-distance trains, shows the great need in the region.”
Altenmarkt benefits from better timing
Altenmarkt is currently benefiting from the recent increase in the frequency of the train timetable. In order to make public transport more attractive for everyone, the community of 3,700 is giving its citizens four climate tickets, all of which have been very well received. “Regardless of whether it’s seniors or young families, the climate ticket is almost always fully booked,” the community agrees. In general, the train has become an attractive alternative to the car in Altenmarkt. “We have been feeling the construction sites on the motorway to Salzburg for a few days now,” emphasizes Altenmarkt’s mayor Rupert Winter. “If you regularly can’t get to appointments on time because everything on the street is congested, people will definitely look for alternatives. The train has become a good option.”
Families borrow climate tickets
You would also feel the urge to use public transport in Salzach-Pongau. The railway has always played a central role in Schwarzach. As a rail hub, the community benefits from the very good connections to the transport network. The community around Mayor Andreas Haitzer also has a total of four climate tickets available for its citizens to borrow. “These tickets are also very well received by us,” says the local manager happily. “Although the climate tickets are used by every age group, we see a lot of interest from families, especially at the weekend. One ticket is then valid for two adults and two children. You can see that the train is a good alternative to private cars for Schwarzachers “We are also interested in the good utilization of the park-and-ride car park,” emphasizes Mayor Haitzer.
St. Martin hopes for more buses
St. Martin remains almost untouched by its connection to the public transport network. But here too, climate tickets are available to borrow from the municipality. According to local manager Johannes Schlager, the offer is being accepted on a test basis: “Since we are currently not really blessed with a good connection to public transport, the loanable climate ticket is also accepted more often on a weekly basis. But we are working on strengthening the connection – hopefully the buses will then run “Soon every hour, so that it will be a little easier for us in St. Martin to do without the car,” hopes St. Martin’s local boss Johannes Schlager.
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