Empty stations: Austria's rail strike blocks cross-European travel

English Español Français العربية Русский

RSS

Radio TV

LANGUAGE
English Español Français العربية Русский Documentary CCTV+

Radio TV

Download

Translating...

Content is automatically generated by Microsoft Azure Translator Text API. CGTN is not responsible for any of the translations.

Travellers at Vienna's central station as Austria's rail workers stage a strike. Reuters/Lisa Leutner

Austrian rail workers staged a one day strike on Monday, bringing to a standstill the nation's network, which is pivotal in cross-European travel. The country's stations - where usually a million passengers get on and off trains every day - were deserted.

Rail employees demanded a 12 percent pay-rise before negotiations with the employers broke down. Inflation in Austria stood at 11 percent in October - the highest peak in 70 years.

Experts predict that the median price of goods and services will further rise by 11.5 percent in November, after which a decrease is likely. Recently, state employees received a pay-rise of over 7 percent and metal worker unions got a similar one. If and when negotiations between rail workers and their employers resume is not clear yet.

Vienna's deserted 'Hauptbahnhof' station, one of Europe's main transportation hubs./Reuters/Lisa Leutner

In no other EU country are trains as pivotal as they are in Austria, both for travel within and through the country.

Lying at the heart of Europe it is also considered the continent's night train pioneer. But all connections between Bucharest, Brussels, Rome and Hamburg were blocked on Monday. And given the short notice of the strike, many international rail passengers have found their journeys disrupted.

Meanwhile heavy car traffic was made worse after environmental activists glued themselves to roads in the cities of Graz, Linz and Innsbruck on the same day. However, the congestion was eased by the fact that many people decided to work from their homes instead of commuting.

The rail strike is due to last until midnight (Monday), although disruption on international overnight trains in expected to continue until Tuesday.

MORE FROM CGTN

Ireland moves to ban imports from Israeli-occupied territories

{"type":2,"value":"Louise Greenwood","commentator":[],"valueShow":true,"commentatorShow":false}

In a legal first for an EU member state, the planned embargo will target agricultural goods like olives, oranges and dates. It comes as Ireland's foreign minister says 'it cannot be business as usual' with Netanyahu's government.

Europe

17:22, 27-May-2025