Questions and answers

Self-service ticketing on local trains is permitted on all ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG local and regional trains - in other words, on all REX, R, CJX and S-Bahn trains. Long-distance trains cannot be used with self-service tickets.

You must buy a valid ticket before boarding local and regional trains - meaning REX, R, CJX and S-Bahn trains.

Boarding without a ticket is only permitted at stations where there is no ticket machine or ticket desk. In this case, you must immediately go to the train attendant or the ticket machine on the train (at one of the ends of the train) and purchase a ticket. Passengers travelling on long-distance services can still purchase their ticket from the train attendant for a surcharge of € 3.-.

In 2005, 16 self-service routes were introduced across Austria and have been gradually expanded in recent years. Around two thirds of all local and regional trains and passengers now travel on self-service routes. What used to be the exception has now become the rule.

For customers, however, this split meant that they had to find out separately for each route how and where they could buy their ticket. This uncertainty is now a thing of the past. The current arrangement ensures that standardised regulations are applied to all ÖBB- passenger trains throughout Austria, putting an end to uncertainty for passengers. They no longer have to worry about whether they are travelling on a self-service route or not, but only whether there is a ticket machine or ticket desk at the station.

Yes, travelling by train without a ticket is not permitted.

The quickest way to find out the situation at a station is to use Scotty, the door-to-door information service provided by ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG. In the "Station information" menu under "Facilities", you can find information about ticket desks, opening hours, ticket machines and their locations. This ensures that customers can find all the information they need before they set off on their journey.

Alternatively, the ÖBB Customer Service team at 05-1717 (Austria-wide at local rates) can of course also provide information about ticket machines and their locations.

Depending on the amount to be paid, the ticket machine may not accept every banknote, as the machine only issues coins and would otherwise soon run out of change. The machine can return a maximum of € 9.- in coins. You can use the following types of cash at any time:

• All euro coins
• € 5.- and € 10.- bank notes

• Major credit cards (VISA, DINERS CLUB, MasterCard, AMERICAN EXPRESS, JCB)
• Debit card

You can buy your ticket at a ticket desk or purchase a mobile ticket.

No penalty fare will be issued and no ticket inspection fee will be charged for passengers who obviously cannot reasonably be expected to use a ticket machine. In this case, only the corresponding fare will be charged. The following individuals are deemed to be persons who cannot reasonably be expected to operate a ticket machine:

• Blind or visually impaired persons travelling unaccompanied;
• Wheelchair users who are travelling unaccompanied;
• Individuals who cannot reasonably be expected to operate other vending machines or ATMs due to their impaired intellectual capacity.

ÖBB introduced its first self-service routes in 2005. In the years since then, the proportion of senior citizens buying tickets from ticket machines on these routes has risen sharply, but the number of senior citizens as a proportion of the total number of penalty fares has not increased noticeably. The assertion that senior citizens are unable to use ticket machines is therefore not substantiated by the figures.

ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG also offers individual operating instructions for anyone wanting to use a ticket machine, which can resolve any unanswered questions.

On local transport in particular, ticket sales now only account for a very small proportion of train attendants’ work, but require a comparatively high amount of effort - for example, they have to carry sales equipment and change.

On many routes, the innovations introduced in recent years mean that train attendants are no longer required for operational reasons, as dispatching of trains can be carried out directly by the drivers.

However, with the transition to self-service ticketing, the role of train attendants on local and regional trains will move away from ticket sales towards customer service and monitoring activities (e.g. providing information, more patrols).

In this situation, it is permitted to buy a ticket on the train – either from the ticket machine on the train (at one of the ends of the train) or from the train attendant. However, you must go to the ticket machine or the train attendant immediately after boarding and buy the ticket.

However, there are also ways to buy a ticket without using a ticket machine:

• As a mobile ticket
• As an online ticket
• At an ÖBB ticket desk
• Through the ÖBB Customer Service team at 05-1717

There are always two or more ticket machines at larger stations, so it should be possible to use another machine.

If there is no functioning ticket machine at a station, you can buy a ticket on the train - either from the ticket machine on the train (at one of the ends of the train) or from the train attendant. However, you must go to the ticket machine or the train attendant immediately after boarding and buy the ticket.

You can buy a ticket...

• At a ticket desk
• At a ticket machine by paying with cash
• Through your mobile phone

You cannot justifiably buy a ticket on the train in this situation.

The train attendants are regularly informed about out-of-order ticket machines on their routes. However, if the malfunction has occurred at such short notice that the train attendants have not yet been informed, please send the issued penalty fare to the email address provided. The defective machine will be checked and the fare will be corrected.

A penalty fare will be issued to you. The cost is € 105.- if paid in cash, but a € 30.- processing fee will be added if you pay by paying-in slip.