New record for long-term public transport tickets
It is good news for the climate and the environment in the new year: The number of holders of public transport season tickets is increasing again, as a look at the current sales figures of Holding Graz from the previous year shows. Taking into account all ticket variants of the annual ticket as well as the climate ticket Styria, more long-term tickets were sold than ever before. At exactly 55,932, around 1,000 more season tickets were sold in 2022 than in the previous record year of 2019.
Mayor Elke Kahr: “The trams and buses of Graz Linien are the backbone of public transport in the city of Graz. I am pleased that more and more people are using the public transport services in the Styrian capital, also in the interest of the environment. Around 56,000 people bought an annual ticket or a climate ticket last year, which is a gratifying record. However, mobility and especially public transport must remain affordable for people. That is why the City of Graz, in addition to the Climate Ticket, continues to rely on the Social Mobility Card to provide targeted support to people on low incomes.”
Deputy Mayor Judith Schwentner: “Switching to buses and trams is a top priority in our climate protection measures. I am very pleased that we can now welcome almost 56,000 ‘mobile climate protectors’ at Graz Linien. With the promotion of the Climate Ticket Styria, we will give the next impulse from 1 March: public transport users from Graz will then be able to travel throughout the entire province with their annual ticket.”
As is well known, sales of the annual season ticket fell significantly in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic: Covid measures such as lockdowns as well as increased home office reduced ticket sales by around 30 per cent from 2019 to 2021, with 37,137 season tickets sold. In coordination with the City of Graz, Holding Graz therefore set itself the goal last year of returning to the pre-Corona level and thus the annual result of 2019, despite the ongoing pandemic. With around 56,000 units, the sales of 2019 have now even been exceeded.
The corona-related low in the area of long-term tickets sold was also successfully overcome thanks to two sales-promoting campaigns by Holding Graz. As an “ambassador” for climate and environmental protection, a tram in the climate ticket look has been on the road since last year, which also points out the many advantages for season ticket holders. Climate ticket and season ticket holders also enjoy many advantages with sponsoring partners of Holding Graz. For example, there is the 1+1 ticket promotion at Sturm Graz, GAK, the 99ers or the Universalmuseum Joanneum. When you buy a ticket, you get a second one for free. There are also discounts at many other cultural and sports institutions.
Holding Graz CEO Wolfgang Malik and Mark Perz, Board Member for Mobility & Leisure, are also pleased with the ticket sales success: “After the significant pandemic-related sales declines in 2020 and 2021, the sales figures in the previous year even successfully exceeded the pre-Corona level of 2019. A great result for public transport in Graz.”
