Settling In 101much more convenient. The fast train is a bit of a misnomer:
it is only fast if you catch it at the right time (usually four
times per hour—the times are posted on each platform). The
waiting time in between can be long, but the ride is quick,
hence the prefix Schnell.
Honour System
Since the honour system is practised on public transportation,
no gates or turnstiles bar your entry. But remember to buy
a ticket to avoid the embarrassing and far more costly
experience of having a plainclothes transportation officer
check your ticket. If caught riding ‘black’, there is a fine of
€ 62, which is higher than the monthly pass. If you do not
have the money, you will have to show a photo ID, take a
payment form (Zahlschein) and pay within three days. If you
don’t have a photo ID, you could be taken to the police station
to sign a sworn statement. Either way, you must pay the fine
within three days or be forced to pay additional fees.
Myriad of Tickets
There are a variety of tickets (Fahrschein) to buy, depending
on how frequently you will use the public transportation
system. When travelling in Vienna, the tickets are strictly for
the 100 zone (the area within the city limits). If you travel to
the far suburbs, you pay a supplement. You can buy a one-
way ticket (which does not have to be validated if bought on
the bus), a 24-hour pass, a 72-hour pass or an 8-day pass.
Remember that the ticket with a date and time, called a Time
Ticket (Zeitkarten), is good only for the specified day. There
are special tourist tickets for travel of up to three days in
some of the larger cities. Anyone using public transportation
regularly would want a weekly, monthly or yearly pass that
allows them unlimited rides in the specified period. The pass
requires bank information and a picture, and is only available
at a pre-sale ticket window or Vorverkaufstellen.
Tickets can be bought at a Tabak-Trafik, on the bus or
tram (one-way tickets only), at an automatic dispenser found
outside most metro stations or at the pre-sale ticket window
at the bigger metro stations.