A new experience in Vienna – anyone entering the 'blue zone' in the metro without a ticket pays a fine of 105 euros.
The Vienna Transport Authority (Wiener Linien) has started testing a new system to reduce unauthorized access within metro stations by placing blue ground markings with the phrase Ticket-Zone at Westbahnhof station, to alert passersby that the area requires an entry ticket even for those not taking the train.
New and striking signs raise questions A reader of the newspaper Heute noticed blue lines on the ground in front of the elevators leading to the U3 subway station on Saturday morning, with 'Ticket-Zone' written on them.
The passenger clarified that these signs may have come as a reminder to pedestrians who use the station as a shortcut that they need a ticket, even if they do not actually board the train.
Response from the Transport Authority: Awareness initiative and pilot test When asked by the newspaper 'Heute' about the purpose of these signs, the spokesperson for the Transport Authority in Vienna confirmed that it is a field trial aimed at clarifying the boundaries of ticket areas for travelers and pedestrians.
The spokesperson said: Ticket inspectors sometimes find it difficult to verify whether people have actually used the metro or just passed through as a corridor, so these signs help clarify that the area requires a valid ticket.
It added that the measure will also help tourists and foreign visitors who may not realize that entering the train areas in Vienna requires a prior ticket. A fine of up to 115 euros According to the transport authority, this phase is still experimental to assess its effectiveness in reducing cases of ticketless travel. But the rules remain the same: anyone caught inside the ticket area without a valid ticket is considered in violation.
The immediate fine is 105 euros if paid directly, and it rises to 115 euros if paid later. The project organizers hope that this step will reduce the number of violators and simplify the work of inspection teams, with the intention of later evaluating the experience and expanding it to other stations if it proves successful.