The steady increase in passenger numbers on the local railways will continue in 2024. The local railways operated by Stern & Hafferl Verkehr - including the Traunseetram, Linzer Lokalbahn, Atterseebahn and Vorchdorferbahn - counted 3.75 million passengers last year. This corresponds to an increase of 6.4% compared to the previous year. Particular highlights were the millionth passenger in one year on the Traunseetram and the Attersee as a major visitor magnet thanks to the new timetable offer.
Traunseetram
The mix of good public transport services, favourable fare offers such as the KlimaTicket OÖ and the Freizeit-Ticket OÖ as well as attractive cooperations between the OÖ Verkehrsverbund and regional partners and transport companies such as Stern & Hafferl Verkehr are increasingly changing the profile of passengers. The figures from the previous year show that public, regional rail transport is not only appreciated by commuters and schoolchildren during the week, but is also increasingly used for short holidays, excursions or spontaneous weekend trips. Passenger numbers on the Traunseetram are now just as high in the summer months as they are during school term time. This is proof of the consistently high attractiveness of the service and the reliable mobility solution that the Traunseetram offers for the region.
Linzer Lokalbahn (LILO)
With 2.2 million passengers (+3.6 %), the Linzer Lokalbahn (LILO) remains the most frequented route. Continuous optimisation of services ensures that it plays an important role in Upper Austria's public transport system as a reliable link between rural areas and the central Linz region.
Vorchdorferbahn
With 208,268 passengers (+3.7 %), the Vorchdorferbahn clearly exceeded the 200,000 mark. This development is primarily due to targeted timetable improvements and making the service more attractive. In particular, the improved connection options and the increasing demand in commuter traffic contribute to the positive development of the Vorchdorf railway.
Atterseebahn
The Atterseebahn is consolidating its role as an attractive connection for commuters and day trippers in the Salzkammergut region. Particularly in the summer months, it offers a stress-free and inexpensive alternative to the car and enables a comfortable journey to Lake Attersee. 315,726 passengers used the local railway in 2024 - an increase of 10.8%, which underlines the growing demand for environmentally friendly mobility in the region. In addition to the attractive timetable, a key success factor was the WESTbahn bathing train, which offered an additional stop in Vöcklamarkt during the summer months, providing a direct transfer option to the Atterseebahn. This optimised connection brought numerous guests from Vienna to Upper Austria directly to Lake Attersee in a comfortable and environmentally friendly way.