The seats remained empty. For two years, the bus shelters at many bus stops in Upper Austria no longer lived up to their name. Because nobody was there waiting to get in. During the main pandemic times, there was a drop in passenger numbers of up to 80 percent in public transport.
Now the passengers are back. On the main axes of the Upper Austrian Transport Association (OÖVV), compared to 2019, there have in some cases been significantly more people preferring the bus to the car.
“Since the introduction of the climate ticket, we have also noticed a significant increase away from the main routes. Especially among those who use the ticket in their free time,” says OÖVV Managing Director Herbert Kubasta. If he has his way, the forthcoming timetable change should encourage even more people to switch to public transport.
New regional bus concept
Because from December 11, the offer will be expanded by more than 800,000 timetable kilometers per year. Passengers who board in the area between Wels, Steyr, Kirchdorf and Gmunden will particularly benefit from this. Because with the start of operation of the new regional bus transport concept, the offer there will be expanded by a total of 15 percent. 74 new low-emission, air-conditioned and barrier-free buses will be used.
The most significant changes include the main axes: Between Kirchdorf and Steyr there will be more connections via Molln, and the timetable will be tailored to large Steyr industrial companies. The same applies to the connections between Steyr, Sierning and Bad Hall. Between Gmunden and Laakirchen, the intervals will be increased to a 30-minute cycle, the buses from Laakirchen will be adapted to the trains of the Salzkammergutbahn in Gmunden. There will also be new early services between Linz, Enns and Steyr on all traffic days.
“In addition to rail, regional bus transport is the backbone of the public transport system. For many, the bus is the only means of mobility. This drives us to improve the offer year after year,” says State Councilor for Infrastructure Günther Steinkellner (FP). (against)
All innovations on ooevv.at
Source: Nachrichten
