ÖBB Annual Report 2025

29 Step by step into the future RESPONSIBILITY. ÖBB is building the railroads of tomorrow with Compete MORE INFO in the Manageme nt Repo rt on page MR6 One important factor for the success of the competition program is the sustainable quality of the measures implemented, i.e. their long-term impact rather than one-off effects. After all, structural measures in particular will take years to achieve their full potential. The motto is therefore: consistent implementation. The aim is to reverse the trend and gradually get back into the black. This requires, on the one hand, a reinvigorated economy and, on the other, a full focus on increasing competitiveness. Implementation is on track Profitable goods transportation is not only necessary for us as ÖBB; it is also essential for achieving our climate targets. The RCG is therefore sending a clear signal that adaptation to the changed market conditions has already begun. The same applies to the entire Group. The ambitious programs and the large number of measures being implemented in the divisions as well as in the holding company and the Business Competence Center demonstrate how seriously ÖBB takes its responsibility as Austria’s largest mobility and logistics service provider and how it is consistently optimizing its organization. This shows that efficiency and competitiveness result primarily from the interplay of many improvements – in processes, technologies and methods – and from a sense of common purpose among the employees. In this way, ÖBB is building a strong foundation for moving people and goods reliably by rail well into the future. communication with customers. At the same time, RCG is working on further developing its product range and tapping into new market potential. Multimodal logistics solutions that intelligently combine road and rail are an important lever here. The so-called first and last mile – i.e. transportation from the factory gate to the rail siding and back – play a particularly decisive role in this regard. Such solutions make it easier for companies to shift their transports to rail and at the same time integrate them flexibly into existing supply chains. Rail vs. road – unfair competition Competition between road and rail is often only perceived in terms of transportation prices. In reality, however, there are struc- tural differences that lead to an unequal competitive situation: Cost structure  The entire railway infrastructure in the EU is subject to tolls. The EU specifies the minimum level of track access charges in its Direct Cost Regulation. At the very least, the infrastructure costs direct- ly caused by a train journey must be covered by the railway operators through the track access charges.  In contrast, there are no nationwide standardized specifications for truck tolls in the EU, only maximum limits for their calculation within the framework of the Eurovignette Directive. Accordingly, many roads (including high-ranking roads) can be used by trucks free of charge or at very low cost. Cross-border traffic  Trucks can cross borders largely without technical barriers, and unlike rail trans- portation, there is no need to change personnel at the border.  Rail transportation must still deal with differing technical and regulatory standards, such as for train speed and weight, track gauge and power and signaling systems. External costs  Studies show that trucks cause six times more external costs due to congestion, air pollution, and accidents than rail.  However, these costs are only partially reflected in the transportation prices. Lasting impact