“KlimaTicket” promotes low-carbon mobility in Austria

I ended 2022 with the purchase of my personal KlimaTicket that allows total and hassle-free public transport travel within and across the whole of Austria. 

On October 26, 2021, Austria's National Day, Austria introduced a nationwide climate ticket – “KlimaTicket”, as a welcome outcome of long discussions between the federal and regional governments, transport associations, and operators. This ticket offers almost ‘unlimited’ year-long public transport use across the whole country encouraging a shift from personal car-dependent transport systems to climate-friendly public transport options. Up to the mid of 2022, some 170 000 passengers had purchased the ticket and according to estimates, 85% (including myself) have replaced car journeys with public transport, despite majority having a driver's license. It is great to know that youth and senior tickets accounted for 28% and 13% respectively among the purchased tickets. 

Transportation contributed 39.8% of Austria's share of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2019. Road transport is the major emitter in this landlocked nation. The country aims to cut transportation-related carbon emissions from about 24 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent (2019 levels) to almost nothing by 2040. This is being targeted through significant investments in public transportation infrastructure to offer greener alternatives to motorized individual transportation. Austria's 2030 Mobility Master Plan sets a 16% reduction in private vehicle use by 2040. It also plans to double active travel  of walking and cycling, from 3-6% and raise public transportation from 27% to 40%. 

KlimaTicket is a great way forward to achieve these goals. Offering a straightforward and reasonably priced mobility service, the annual cost of the national ticket is Euro 1 095 (or Euro 3 per day) for adults, and Euro 821 (or Euro 65) for children and seniors. There is also a family ticket available. I paid Euro 821 as a student with an additional one month bonus in terms of validity so that my ticket is valid for 13 months instead of 12 months. Furthermore, I am paying this amount in easy monthly installments and enjoying cheap ticket-free travel all over Austria. Overall, it helps me save on my regular day to day travel as well as occasional travel for holidays and leisure.

With the national ticket it is possible to use all regular services (public and private rail transport , city transport and transport associations). Cheaper regional tickets are also available for those whose travel is mainly restricted within specific regions.

Austria obviously wants to make a clear contribution to achieving Paris climate targets through the KlimaTicket. Infrastructure expansion, increased frequency of trains, modernization of fleet and networks, addition of service digitization and upgrade of facilities… are all further improving the appeal of public transportation, thus making it a viable alternative for all types of customers. From low-budget to high-profile, in dense clusters and remote locations. train stations will be developed into travel friendly mobility hubs.

The Austrian government has exhibited a strong political will to advance the decarbonization of the transport sector. KlimaTicket has become an important Austrian policy instrument for achieving net zero traffic. The National Annual Ticket contributes to sustainably promoting behavioral change, a clear example of how climate issues have helped bring about change. With the KlimaTicket everyone who commutes or travels in Austria can benefit as well as contribute to the country's climate-friendly future.

Sources and References
https://www.klimaticket.at/de/#was-ist-das-klimaticket

https://www.oecd.org/climate-action/ipac/practices/austria-s-klimaticket-to-promote-low-carbon-mobility-408c8de9/