ÖBB is currently providing capacity for 250,000 lorries per year to use the rolling road service and plans to increase this to 400,000 by the end of the year, doubling the previous capacity. ÖBB says it will not increase the cost of the rolling road service, offering road transit companies a simple and attractive alternative to road transport. The measures are expected to take 1000 trucks off the road per day.
The restrictions, which will remain in place until the end of the ski season in April, apply to all motorists using 10 routes apart from those exiting motorways to reach their homes, hotels or places of work. The restrictions are targeting motorists looking to avoid congestion by using secondary routes with offending drivers paying up to €60 in fines. Tyrol currently handles around 2.4 million transit lorries every year between Germany and Italy.
ÖBB says tests of the increased capacity held in spring and autumn 2019 showed that the expanded operation was manageable. All low-floor wagons used on the route are fitted with low-noise disc brakes.
