[ad_1]
80 to 90 percent fewer people, a quarter fewer assets: The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) are economically on the side.
There are only 20 percent fewer trains than normal. But instead of an average of 250 to 300 people, “four to six” are currently transported by train, ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä said Friday in a conference call that should have been used to present the balance.
The problem was rather how the state railways can get out of the crisis again. Matthä described his plan to include a short-term work package, renegotiation of contracts, freight transportation subsidies (which has very little loss for the Covid-19 fund), internal reduction of time credits and participation in a package of economic stimulus in the fall. “If transport associations want us to drive empty buses and trains, who will have to pay for it,” Matthä said.
More investments than planned?
Furthermore, it expects to receive additional investment approvals from politicians for ÖBB in excess of the € 2.4 billion envisaged in the framework plan for 2020. This creates high regional value added and jobs, is an essential contribution to climate protection and prevents the Traffic return to the highway, of which he urgently warned.
In three days, the Austrian Federal Railways could be fully operational again from currently minimal passenger traffic. “If we receive the information on Thursday, we will start at midnight on Monday,” said Matthä. ÖBB management still couldn’t say when that would be. Two important milestones are “in late April, the removal of the exit restriction and then the fully functioning schools,” Matthä said. Many would then no longer work in the home office and return to the workplace with public transportation.
International long distance traffic will take a few weeks to normal operation due to pandemic restrictions in Europe. Currently ÖBB only serves Germany and Budapest. Almost all passengers currently wear protective masks (voluntarily), it is “a very fair deal.”
Freight transportation concerns
ÖBB reported a pre-tax profit of € 168.5 million in the last year (2018: € 168.1 million). Sales increased one percent to € 4.4 billion. The deterioration of the economy last year had a notable impact on Rail Cargo’s cargo subsidiary. The closure of the Linz Voest blast furnaces also had a major impact (less transportation of coal, ore, steel and cars). The result fell from 23.5 euros to 5.1 million. However, ÖBB is one of the few freight railways in Europe to post a positive result in 2019.
In the current Covid crisis, ÖBB is only registering growth in one segment of freight transport: consumer goods such as pasta, salt, toilet paper and also disinfectant alcohol. Unlike the truck columns, there were no traffic jams at the state borders.
With 477 million passengers on trains and buses, the state railroad reached a peak. Regarding the prospects for 2020, the ÖBB boss joked: “We will not win the high game this year.”
For the first time ever more ASVGers
For the first time, there were fewer Bundesbahn officials at the ÖBB than those insured by ASVG in 2019, a turning point in terms of personnel. More than 16,000 employees were over 50 years old. The company recruited 3,700 new employees, including 564 apprentices. “After this hard braking, we hope to be the economic engine again and we are still looking for new people at full speed,” said Chief Financial Officer Arnold Schiefer. (uru)