Public transport in Austria! Truth be told, we don’t really hear all that much about a country where the usual discussion is about trade and economics, the many myriad pleasures of vacationing at Tyrol, of being amid the picturesque splendor called Vorarlberg and being captivated by the mountainous forested charms of Styria.
Of all the nine states that are seeped in wonder and wide-eyed charm, the discussion, whosoever you might be and wherever you might be, is about trade and business activity, on whether there’s a new, impending visit being planned for the Swarovski’s Kristallwelten.
It’s not really about the space of public transport in Austria- isn’t it? So why then, all of a sudden, are we hearing about an element that you’d feel although touches upon different sections of the society, doesn’t really form mainstream news?
Having said that, it’s important to note that the common public transport forms in Austria right now happen to be the buses, trains and transit systems. But it appears that a shining new example is being added to the space of public transport in Austria. And interestingly, it is called 1-2-3 ticket.
This is actually not only a wonderful new addition, if one believes but also has the potency to bring about a shape-shifting new turn. So what is that?
The new system of public transport in Austria can allow one to actually travel around the country with a system of a central pass of sorts that actually encompasses travel across the nation.
So when you find a 1-2-3 pass, you know this is an article laced with great utility, not some random product.
Also if you would find that administrations are ever-willing to invest in such developments from the standpoint of elevating the status of a city or a country. This is what is happening in many developing regions of the world where pumping resources and initiatives toward building infrastructure is of great essence.
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Having said that, the times we are in, let a question be asked: is the definition of a thriving urban city only explained by high-tech SEZ, IT parks, large-sized universities, and state-of-the-art hospitals?
Isn’t the true definition of a thriving cosmopolis, think Berlin, think Shanghai, don’t forget Sydney and places like Vienna not represented also by excellent public infrastructure?
In this case, can we imagine a San Francisco in the absence of the age-old tram systems? Can we think of a Manchester in the absence of a magic-bus pass?
No, right?
The same way, the newly introduced 1-2-3 ticket will pave way for a revolutionary new way in which much of Austria will now commute to all lengths of the country keeping in mind the importance of convenience and less hassle.
In fact, where the official report published on the famous European publication The Mayor is concerned, then the following developments come to light:
The idea for a “climate ticket”, also called the “1-2-3 ticket” is not new, rather it is an idea that has been floated around for years by different parties and politicians (the numbered name was even coined by members of the Austrian Social Democratic Party, who are not even in government) with the goal of integrating the country’s public transport network and making it easier and cheaper to access.
The landmark initiative will be financed through an initial investment of 240 million euros, while the ÖBB simultaneously works on expanding its range by purchasing new trains for 500 million euros. Furthermore, night trains will also be subsidized by the government starting in 2024 with ten million euros per year.
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That being said, just think of the investment.
In that way, Austria, it ought to be said, has pumped in a massive amount to fuel that necessary cog of infrastructure which goes a long way to prove that cities are but the vital brand ambassador of countries in this day and age.
Just imagine, at the cost of 1 Euro a day the kind of economic hassle the revolutionary “1-2-3” ticket is going to take away. Secondly, for traveling the entire country, you need a ticket that costs no more than 3 Euros.
That being said, the ticket will likely get into full scale of operation in less than two years.