Wiener Linien fines passenger for delayed journey start

A 61-year-old woman in Vienna was required to pay a reduced fine of 70 euros after a dispute with Wiener Linien regarding a digital single ticket. The woman had purchased a digital ticket via an app, but due to feeling unwell from the heat, she sat on a bench in a subway station for approximately ten minutes before beginning her journey.

Wiener Linien initially demanded a 145-euro fine, arguing that the terms of service require passengers to commence their journey immediately after purchasing a ticket without interruption. Although the ticket had a maximum validity of 80 minutes, the company maintained that the delay between purchase and the start of travel violated their conditions.

The dispute was partially resolved through a mediation attempt by the Agency for Passenger and Passenger Rights, resulting in the fine being reduced to 70 euros. The passenger accepted the decision but expressed that she found the ruling incomprehensible.