The City of Vienna and Wiener Linien, the city’s public transport operator, have agreed a financing contract as a foundation of the city’s public transport strategy for the next 15 years.
‘If we want more frequent, high-quality public transport and extensions to the metro line, we need secure financing,’ says Alexandra Reinagl, Wiener Linien’s managing director. ‘We are very pleased that the city government is so clearly committed to support public transport.’
The contract will enter into effect in 2017 and follows the formula that has been in place since 2002. Since that time, the metro and tram networks have been expanded and both passenger numbers and the modal split of public transport have increased dramatically.
Around 60 per cent of Wiener Linien’s costs are generated by the company itself, with further financing provided by the City of Vienna. By 2017 this contribution will be over € 500m.
‘The financing contract makes it possible to expand our public transportation’s leading role in urban mobility. In recent years the quality of our service has increased while prices have remained affordable,’ said Reinagl.
An integral part of the new financing agreement is numerous quality criteria that must be met by Wiener Linien. Every year, punctuality, cleanliness, customer satisfaction, safety and accessibility will be evaluated. If targets aren’t met Wiener Linien will receives less money from the city.
Wiener Linien’s target is to carry one billion passengers a year by 2020 and be responsible for 40 per cent of journeys in Vienna.
Original author: Lewis Macdonald
Picture: Ludovic Hirliman
