• austriantimes.at
• croatiantimes.com
• romaniantimes.at
• salzburgtimes.at

Today

• Vienna - Johnny\'s Pub Quiz
• Vienna - Unknown Underground
• Vienna - Childrens Fun

© Wikipedia

22. 11. 12. - 13:00

• more Business news
• RSS Feed Business

22. 11. 12. - 13:00

Westbahn continues on an expansion course

Railway company Westbahn have revealed they are offering more trains for winter – but that the ticket price will remain the same.

The revelation comes as the company boss Erich Forster said he doesn't want to get into a legal battle with Austrian state railway operator ÖBB over their competition with each other and would prefer to settle their differences in a friendly way through mediation.

The Westbahn founder and its first boss Stefan Wehinger had seemingly deliberately steered the company onto a confrontation course with the Austrian state operator but in June the was the surprise news that he was to leave.

Forster said that in future they wanted to use the money for lawyers in providing a better service for customers.

He said: "We are not prepared to have to go before court to battle things out with them."

The disappearance of part owner Wehinger has allowed the other owners to increase their share. In future the French state railway SNCF and the privately owned family business of Hans Peter Haselsteiner (Strabag) each have 35 percent and the Augusta Holding reportedly funded by investor Erhard Grossnig has 30%.

The timetable for the current winter season shows instead of 13 daily trains to Vienna and 13 to Salzburg there will be 15 to Vienna and 16 to Salzburg.

The company hopes that the move which represents an 8% increase in the amount of train kilometres they are providing will mean a 15% increase in their presence on the market. The company is also hoping to appear in future in ÖBB train timetables.

The train company sells tickets directly on board the customers which is something about 70% take advantage of with an additional 20% buying their tickets in tobacconists and the rest on the Internet. Because of the new route between Vienna and St Pölten and the short distance between the stops there will also be more ticket collectors in operation.

From a current level of 200 there will be another 15 taken on.

Further routes however are not planned for 2015.

Vienna Times

Elton John - Vienna concert tonight
Elton John is performing at the Stadthalle this evening.

Bathing ban remains on Donauinsel
Swimmers looking to escape the heat wave have been warned to avoid the Donauinsel because of possible infection.

Emergency doctors and security at the Donauinselfest
Security and emergency services will be working around the clock at the 30th Donauinselfest in Vienna this weekend as 200 acts take to the stage.

Better road security for the elderly
A two-day conference on "mobility and road safety in an ageing society" which kicks off tomorrow at the Palais Ferstel (Vienna) will look for measures to improve the security of road users over 60 years of age.

Better road security for the elderly
A two-day conference on "mobility and road safety in an ageing society" which kicks off tomorrow at the Palais Ferstel (Vienna) will look for measures to improve the security of road users over 60 years of age.

Heat causes damage to the West motorway
High temperatures have caused damage to the A1 "Westautobahn" motorway from Lower-Austria to Vienna.

Red Light Process starts again in Vienna
The so-called "Red Light Process" is being continued in the regional court in Vienna today.

Gay pride in the sunshine
More than 150,000 people took part in the 18th edition of the Vienna gay pride parade this weekend.

Registration for Vienna Childrens Uni now open
The children’s university (Kinderuni Wien) from July 8 to 20 will offer a variety of seminars, presentations and workshops.

Father saves his son from pool
A three-year-old who almost drowned in a pool accident in Waidhofen an der Thaya (Lower-Austria) was narrowly saved by his father.