ÖBB Annual Report 2023

15 For a reliable future of a comprehensive construction programme during ongoing operations and delays in the delivery of new rolling stock, as it is not possible to provide replace- ment sets in the event of deviations. Cooperation with neighbouring railways has been and is being intensified in order to be as punctual as ÖBB claims to be, for example in maintenance, and train schedules have also been adapted. Construction activity as part of the largest investment programme in the history of ÖBB is accompanied by revised timetables, among other measures. ÖBB is keeping its passengers informed to enable them to plan their train journey even during the construction work. In addition, the intensification of traffic reduces the time available to “get on track”. The aim is therefore to optimise the scheduling and logistics of construction sites so that the infrastructure remains as available as possible. ÖBB is also working intently on doubling the capacity of the railway system by 2040. This will be achieved through the expansion of the rail infrastructure, digitalisation and the commissioning of new trains. Cleanliness: the first impression Clean railway stations, stops and trains are ÖBB’s calling card and are responsible for the “first impression” that is known to have a decisive effect. The more people travel, however, the dirtier buses and railway, trains and stations become. ÖBB is meeting the new requirements with needs-orientated cleaning. Among other factors, cleaning intervals are shortened when customer frequency is particularly high. The use of technical cleaning solutions is also being tested. Quality in cleanliness is also synonymous with sustainability. The aim is to use ecological products and generally reduce the use of chemicals. A project to avoid microplastics is the result of a collaboration between ÖBB-Infrastruktur and students at the University of Graz. Cleanliness is not only an essential aspect of quality per se; cleanliness also helps to prevent accidents or the spread of diseases. And cleanliness increases the subjective feeling of safety. Security: a comprehensive topic The extremely important topic of “security” covers three areas: public safety, occupational and operational safety and infor- mation security. Safety is therefore a quality that ÖBB offers its customers as well as its employees. Its importance is also reflected in the fact that “Living safety” is one of ÖBB’s four corporate values. The more people travel by train and bus, the greater the risk for passengers and employees of falling victim to criminal offences. Added to this is the increased risk of accidents as construction sites and maintenance work increase. Simply book via SimplyGo! New to the ÖBB app since Feb- ruary 2023 is the ticket func- tion SimplyGo! Once activated, the routes travelled by train, bus, tram or underground are recognised via GPS tracking. The fare is not calculated until the early hours of the following day in order to determine the ap- propriate fare from the available ticket offers. Discounts stored are taken into account. In the first year alone, over 36,000 ÖBB customers have already acti- vated the SimplyGo! feature in the ÖBB app. > SEMMERING BASE TUNNEL While the final metres are still being excavated, the interior work is already progressing rapidly