Quick thoughts on Wiener Linien Annual Pass staying at €365 for next 20 months
Austrian political party the SPÖ (the left of center Social Democratic Party of Austria for those not in the know) has just announced the cost of a Wiener Linien Annual Pass on Vienna’s public transportation will remain at €365 through 2025. (Wiener Linien Annual Pass information)
Considering the cost of the ticket, which covers unlimited travel on buses, trams and underground trains in Vienna all 365 days a year, has not increased since it was implemented in May, 2012, I would say that is somewhat surprising and excellent news.
That’s €1 a day for all the transportation you can consume, by the way, for those who haven’t yet visited Europe’s fairest city.
However, I will go one step further and add, the way Austria’s economy is currently performing under the government of the ÖVP and the Grüne (heading towards stagnation, and an increasing number of people living in extreme poverty), unless things improve quickly, I will guess that €365 Annual Pass will still be the same price in Vienna in 2026 and beyond.
Austrian economy weakening in 2024
After all, when millions of Austrians are struggling to pay basic living expenses as the country continues to suffer under the EU’s third-highest inflation rate, as Germany’s worsening economy is likely to cause Austria’s economy to falter, and as politicians currently in office continue to push the same tired philosophies that didn’t work the first time around, Austria’s economy could still be faltering in 2026.
In addition, as Austria’s income taxes continue to be some of the highest in the world, and with its workers’ tax burden now even higher in 2024, that is also leaving even less money for people to spend after they’ve paid the basic necessities.
All of this, and a lot more economic woe currently occurring in Austria, means a steady underclass of people who need, among other things, a €365 annual public transportation ticket in Vienna just to be able to afford to get to the job that isn’t paying them enough to financially thrive.
Unless, of course, the current Austrian government is kicked out during our next election in September, 2024, and one with more of a fiscal clue is elected.
But… a guaranteed public transportation Annual Pass in Vienna for just €365 guaranteed for the next 20 months, at least there’s some good news, eh?
Roll on September, and hopefully we’ll get more.