OEBB Austrian Railways

Austrian Federal Railways Needs € 400m

Christian Kern, CEO of the Federal Raiways (ÖBB), backed up his call for a capital increase.

January 3, 2011

Drastic Job Cut at ÖBB

The Austrian Federal Railways cuts 650 posts at its freight division Rail Cargo Austria (RCA).

January 1, 2011

WIFO Director: "Crisis was not Taken Advantage of to Introduce Reforms"

In an interview with the newspaper "Kurier", the head of the WIFO criticizes the lack of commitment to reforms. His perspectives for Austria are nevertheless optimistic.

December 30, 2010

Czech Railways Considers to Acquire ÖBB-Railjets

The Austrian Federal Railways doesn´t want to exercise its option to buy further Railjets from Siemens.

December 28, 2010

Austrian Official Debt Level Rises

Due to the EU-wide commitment to a more transparent presentation of liabilities, the official debt ratio of Austria will continue to increase.

December 21, 2010

French SNCF Participates in Westbahn Project

The French National Railways acquire a stake of 25% in the Haselsteiner project.

December 17, 2010

Allegations of Market Abuse Against ÖBB

The Austrian Federal Railways are facing another accusation by the Federal Competition Authority. Rail Cargo is said to have abused its market power.

December 17, 2010

JCL Logistics and Rail Cargo Austria Step into Strategic Alliance

Both logistics companies agree to establish a cooperation in groupage service. Their common target is to reach synergies in their transport network.

December 15, 2010

Extra-budgetary Debts Grow Unabated

Debt levels which are not attributed to the Austrian Federal Budget rise exorbitantly. Above all, the ÖBB and Asfinag are responsible.

November 30, 2010

ÖBB-CEO Kern Reconstructs Freight Division

After the decisions made about personnel, Kern wants to make the freight division profitable again. The group’s CEO has accorded himself three years for the process.

November 26, 2010

ÖBB: Changes in Freight Traffic Leadership

Because of poor results, the ÖBB CEO has to act on facts: The managers of the freight division are being replaced.

November 25, 2010

The ÖBB is a Risk Factor for the State Budget

While the investment projects for the ÖBB are being reduced by Transport Minister Doris Bures, a fiasco is threatening on the revenue side.

November 15, 2010

Infrastructure Development: Investing in the Future or Incurring Debt?

While industry competes for sites for the development of infrastructure, legitimate questions are being raised on financial issues.

November 15, 2010

Traffic Expenditures: € 4.3bn less

As a consequence of the new budget, public infrastructure projects are being reduced considerably. Postponed projects and low-cost alternatives will save money.

November 12, 2010

Competition for Hungarian ÖBB Subsidiary

Rail Cargo Hungaria (RCH) is still fighting for restructuring success. Meanwhile, a new competitor has appeared in the freight business.

November 5, 2010

IHS Boss Felderer Pleads for Railway Tunnel

The debate about the controversial Koralm tunnel is being enriched. IHS (Institute for Advanced Studies) boss Felderer argues strongly for the infrastructure measure.

November 3, 2010

Strabag CEO Haselsteiner: Koralmtunnel Has To Be Built

Haselsteiner reacts sharply to criticism of the construction of the Koralm tunnel. He sees the infrastructure measure as economically sensible.

November 2, 2010

ÖBB: Alleged Corruption

An internal document about a meeting of the ÖBB Supervisory Board in 2008 has now appeared. Bribes are openly talked about.

October 29, 2010

EU Funds to Finance Brenner Tunnel until 2015

The European Commission has extended its partial financing commitment for the Brenner tunnel. However, appropriate measures must be taken soon. Deliberations are still underway at present.

October 28, 2010

STRABAG Builds the Koralm Tunnel

The controversial project will be built by the construction group Strabag. The total investment amounts to around 600 million euro.

October 28, 2010

Hungarian Railway Workers Strike Against Rail Cargo

Due to employee layoffs at Rail Cargo Hungaria, the employees threaten to go on strike. Rail Cargo suffers losses both in Austria and in Hungary

October 27, 2010

Criticism of Austria's Allocation of Subsidies

Both the volume and the organization of the allocation of subsidies are susceptible of improvement, experts say.

October 21, 2010

New Westbahn Claims Unjustified Subsidies for the ÖBB

The reason is an amendment to the Public Procurement Act, which allegedly gives preference to the ÖBB.

October 20, 2010

Low-Cost Gas Stations on Unused ÖBB Property

The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) have signed a framework contract with Markus Friesacher for up to 35 low-cost gas stations on dormant property.

October 19, 2010

Austrian Federal Railways in Debt Crisis

Several infrastructure projects will increase the debt burden of the Federal Railways dramatically. This could bring considerable effects for the financial situation of the whole Federation.

October 19, 2010

Rail Cargo Austria :End of Losses Not in Sight

The losses of the ÖBB subsidiary Rail Cargo Austria rise to at least 200 million euro The end is far away. Lay offs and restructuring are necessary.

October 7, 2010

ÖBB: 100 Million Euro Savings Through Improved Purchasing

ÖBB want to save 100 million Euro during the next three years with cheaper and better organized purchasing. Shunting and traction are merged.

September 27, 2010

ÖBB: Layoff of 100 executives and 1,000 administrative jobs

In order to save the financially strongly ailing ÖBB, it is being set on a course of austerity by the new boss, Christian Kern, who has been appointed on Friday. 100 executive and 1,000 administrative jobs are to be cut within the next three years.

September 10, 2010

Verbund - Fight over capital increase further delayed

The controversy over Verbund capital is likely to prolong. Infrastructure Minister Doris Bures will continue to insist on her initial position.

August 26, 2010

OIAG to become an infrastructure holding

The OIAG aims to become an infrastructure holding company. The federal real estate company (BIG), Verbund (energy), Asfinag (infrastructure) and parts of the ÖBB (railway) will be slowly integrated in an ÖIAG structure.

July 23, 2010

Union speaks of "death blow" for Austrian Railway

In the context of the forthcoming increase of capital of Verbund hydro electrical plants could be bought from the Austrian Railway Network ÖBB.

July 15, 2010
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