The local railway services operated by Stern & Hafferl Verkehr, including the Traunseetram, the Linzer Lokalbahn, the Atterseebahn, and the Vorchdorferbahn, recorded a notable increase in passenger numbers in 2023.
During a period when fast, safe, and environmentally friendly mobility is crucial, Stern & Hafferl Verkehr reported impressive passenger numbers. The Upper Austrian local railways play a vital role, especially in rural areas, in providing climate-friendly mobility. Combined with regional buses, transport passengers quickly and efficiently, whether for daily commutes or leisure activities.
Herbert Kubasta, CEO of the Upper Austrian Public Transport Association, highlighted the increasing tendency of people to leave their cars at home during leisure time and use public, regional rail services for short breaks, excursions, or spontaneous weekend trips. This trend is supported by affordable fare options like the KlimaTicket OÖ and the Leisure Ticket OÖ, and by attractive partnerships that the transport association establishes with its partners and transport companies like Stern & Hafferl for the people of Upper Austria. Kubasta pointed out that there are still untapped potentials in leisure mobility that they aim to further develop in the future.
The Traunseetram saw a growth of over 19% compared to the previous year. Nearly 912,000 passengers, counted automatically in 2023, marked a record year. The goal for this year is to welcome the millionth passenger on the Traunseetram. The service has also become an integral part of the regional event logistics. With the support of the local railway, visitor flows to venues in Gmunden and other municipalities along the route are very well managed. In close cooperation with the state of Upper Austria and the Upper Austrian Public Transport Special services are even set up for this purpose, ensuring that visitors can still get home comfortably and safely after events end late at night. The response to the public transportation offerings has been consistently positive.
The Atterseebahn also reported a similarly positive interim result, with vacationers and day tourists able to explore the Salzkammergut comfortably and without traffic jams. A total of 285,000 passengers in 2023 represents an increase of 5% over the previous year. Here too, there is close cooperation with tourism to create demand-oriented offerings. In the summer months, an increased frequency ensures that guests can enjoy the atmosphere at the Attersee until the evening before starting their convenient journey home. Special offers during the winter season around Advent and on shopping Saturdays invite travel with the Traunseetram and Atterseebahn to the region.
The Linzer Lokalbahn (LILO), also operated by Stern & Hafferl, set a new passenger record in 2022 with 2 million passengers. This number was slightly exceeded in 2023, with approximately 2.1 million passengers, an increase of 3.3% over 2022, making the local railway once again the leader in Upper Austria. The Vorchdorferbahn reached a total of 201,000 passengers in 2023, crossing the 200,000 passenger mark for the first time.
These increases are attributed to the strong services funded by the state of Upper Austria and the Upper Austrian Public Transport Association. Additionally, barrier-free access has greatly facilitated travel for people with special needs or for parents with strollers. The positive trend is further supported by the introduction of the KlimaTicket. Stern & Hafferl Verkehr continues its mission to improve the quality of life in the region through reliable and sustainable mobility solutions.
