The recent closure of Austria's Westbahn railway line due to severe weather damage has left many commuters facing significant travel disruptions.

The closure, which affects both passenger and freight services, has led to a reduction in train operations, with only 150 trains running daily on the old Westbahn route instead of the usual 550. This has caused delays and inconvenience, particularly for holders of the Klimaticket, who may find it challenging to receive compensation due to the ticket's network-wide validity.

The Austrian Agency for Passenger and Passenger Rights advises affected commuters to document their reliance on the closed routes to potentially claim partial refunds.

Meanwhile, ÖBB is working on rerouting freight traffic and plans to introduce a new timetable by October 10 to manage the situation better.

Despite the disruptions, ÖBB assures that the supply to major industrial sectors remains secure, although the financial impact of the damage is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of euros.