Jenbach - Running a railway and bus operation profitably or cost-effectively is a veritable feat in times like these.
 
The cost of maintaining the infrastructure is horrendous let alone the staffing costs.
 
The political decision-makers know this, so money is pumped in by the taxpayers to keep the business running, and to promote public transport.
 
In the case of the Zillertalbahn 70 percent of the budget is received via the so-called Medium Term Investment Program (MTIP), paid by the Federal Government, the Land covenant, Zillertal municipalities, and the business community of Jenbach.
 
For five years, the Zillertalbahn has received €15 million through the MTIP.
 
The old MTIP expires in 2019 and the negotiations for the new one are still in the very early stages.
 
"For the new MTIP the first preliminary talks are now being held. These include investments in the infrastructure of the Zillertalbahn. All of the railways in Austria are operated from the MTIP, with the exception of the Achenseebahn which is purely a tourist facility," according to Zillertalbahn CEO Wolfgang Stöhr.
 
Achenseebahn Goes Empty
 
For the new MTIP, which will be negotiated in 2019, the Zillertalbahn can look forward to the entire €15 million because the Achenseebahn, which formerly received €3.5 million of the €15 million, receives none this time.
 
In a hearing at the Innsbruck Regional Court on the dismissal of the former Achenseebahn board member Bernhard Marchi, this was also discussed.
 
At the request of this newspaper's editorial team, an Austrian Transport Department official said, "The MTIP is a contract with the federal government under the law of private railways. The Achenseebahn is a pure tourist facility and is therefore not included."
 
Exactly why the Achenseebahn does not get any money is not explained by Austrian officials or by politicians.
 
There is the perception that the sometimes ugly process in connection with ex-board member Bernhard Marchi played a role in the old MTIP money distribution.
 
The Achenseebahn, meanwhile, is working on technical innovations and is in the process of creating its own bus fleet.
 
Author unknown - Loosely translated with Google.