ÖBB CEO Matthä Wants to Reassure About Potential Savings Compulsion
"A flattening of the framework plan is not a first," he said on Tuesday at the Club of Economic Journalists in Vienna, referring to the billion-dollar ÖBB framework plan, which includes the financing of future projects. "The pricing of the climate ticket is also not in our hands."
"Duty to Work Loyally"
The federal government is ultimately the owner of ÖBB. "It is also our duty to work loyally," Matthä said, addressing a possible blue-black government.
The free climate ticket for 18-year-olds - for which 120 million euros were reserved - will definitely be abolished. The regular climate ticket could possibly become more expensive again after a price increase at the turn of the year, apart from inflation. The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) are purely service providers in distribution and transport for the federal government.
"In general, I am not surprised when I read that there are consolidation requirements," Matthä told journalists. With regard to the railway, there needs to be "discussions with those responsible in the Ministry of Transport and Finance". So far, there have not been any such discussions. Every government has so far recognised well in the framework plan what strategic planning and strategic goals are needed for the further development of ÖBB transport, said the manager of the traditionally SPÖ-affiliated federal railways.
When asked how the ÖBB would specifically deal with a saving of 15 percent, which was rumored for ministries or the ORF from the government negotiations, Matthä remained evasive. One would have to see how this could be implemented. "This needs to be discussed with the decision-makers. The framework plan is not an end in itself, it makes transport sense, it's about the target network and the integrated clock-face schedule."
ÖBB CEO on Schiefer
Arnold Schiefer, an old acquaintance of Matthä's from the ÖBB board, also sits as a leading figure on the Freedom Party side in the government negotiations with the People's Party. "He was a very well-considered colleague who doesn't shoot from the hip," says the ÖBB CEO. "I would be surprised if it were any different now." Schiefer was ÖBB's CFO, and previously also chairman of the supervisory board. This came about during the blue-black government period. Since this legislative period, he has been an FPÖ member of the National Council and is considered a ministerial candidate for the Freedom Party according to the media.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.