Trouble with an early deadline

Easter traffic chaos and congestion threaten here

(Bild: Harald Dostal)

Apricot blossom in the east and ski tourism in the west. Roadworks on transit routes become a bottleneck. The AUA strike is unsettling passengers. Overcrowded trains cause trouble - ÖBB increases capacity.

The Easter bunny is just around the corner, and with him the flow of travelers starts to move. In addition, eleven German federal states are starting their vacations, including our neighbors in Bavaria. Due to the early date of Easter, many ski bunnies are still frolicking on the slopes in the west.

Winter sports resorts and roads overloaded
"On the one hand, the classic winter sports routes - such as the Ötztal, Reschen and Zillertal roads in Tyrol, or the Gastein road in Salzburg - will be busy and sometimes overloaded," explains ÖAMTC traffic expert Harald Lasser.

Bumper to bumper on the transit routes - that's what awaits those traveling by car at Easter.

(Bild: stock.adobe.com – U. J. Alexander)

Traffic jams are also expected on the west highway before the Walserberg border crossing. On the south highway, the construction site at the Villach junction will be very congested. But you can also expect "bumper to bumper" on the Tauernautobahn (A10) in front of the roadworks between Golling and Werfen and between Spittal Ost and Paternion-Feistritz.

The club would like to remind you that the ramp closures along the A10 in Salzburg for through traffic will remain in place until Easter Monday. Furthermore, the transit driving bans in Tyrol apply on selected roads in the districts of Kufstein, Reutte and Schwaz until April 1. In addition, traffic on the A8 before the Suben border crossing and on the A4 before Nickelsdorf is at a standstill. In Lower Austria, the apricot blossom is already attracting day-trippers to the Wachau region this weekend.

ÖBB has ordered a further 19 super-modern Railjets to reduce the chaos on the platforms during the vacation season.

(Bild: Gerhard Bartel)

For those who prefer to change to the train, ÖBB has put 15,000 additional seats on the southern and western routes on track around Easter.

ÖBB recommends that travelers reserve seats. ÖBB has also ordered 19 additional Railjets from Siemens for 405 million euros. The sets offer multi-adjustable seats with a closed backrest design for more privacy and other amenities. Four modern Railjets from an earlier delivery will be in service on the western route at Easter.

Another AUA strike looms
If you want to fly with AUA on your Easter vacation, you'll have to tremble: In the next few days, there is a threat of another works meeting of the on-board staff. Negotiations were suspended until midnight on Friday. Without an improved offer from AUA, measures will be decided, warns the union. Around 300 flights a day would be affected. How many of these would be canceled at short notice depends on the duration of the strike.