Austrian railways consider alcohol bans and face border line closures

Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) is considering expanding alcohol bans to several major railway stations to improve safety. Following existing bans at Praterstern, Floridsdorf, and Westbahnhof, officials are evaluating potential restrictions at hubs including Vienna Main Station, Meidling, Wien Mitte, and stations in Linz, Graz, and St. Pölten. Reports indicate that approximately one in six safety-related incidents at stations is linked to alcohol consumption. While the expansion aims to eliminate legal gray areas for security personnel, the KPÖ party has criticized the move, arguing that bans merely displace social problems rather than solving them, and has instead called for increased social work and station missions.

Separately, the railway line between Thörl-Maglern and the province of Udine in the Austrian-Italian border region will be fully closed from August 22 to September 20, 2026, due to construction by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI). To mitigate the impact on freight transport and prevent a shift from rail to road, the regional government of Friaul-Julisch Venetien is providing three million euros in aid to affected railway companies.