An expert on British transport policy - Dr Jon Shaw, based at the University of Aberdeen - has been invited to give evidence next week to the Austrian Government on a possible reorganisation of Austrian railways.
The Austrian Government wants to improve the productivity of the Austrian Federal Railway (OBB) and is considering its reorganisation into a number of separate companies. As a result, they are seeking the views and opinions from a range of European transport experts.
Dr Jon Shaw will give evidence to the Austrian government in Vienna next week (Monday November 24) based on his considerable knowledge of British transport policy.
Dr Shaw said: "The Austrians currently have a very high quality rail system but one that suffers from high cost and low productivity. Any shake-up of the industry ought to come from improvements and savings in the existing structure rather than from wholesale reorganisation. The UK experience is that large scale reorganisation can bring sector innovation and service improvement but at great cost, both literally and metaphorically."
Dr Shaw will additionally highlight to the government transport committee the comparatively high level of subsidy Austrian railways enjoy: The UK rail industry currently receives an annual subsidy of approximately £3.8 billion for a population of 60 million people whereas Austrian railways receive £3 billion with a population of just 8 million people.