Price-depressing criticism of the Twin City Liner: Court of Auditors sounds the alarm

Price-depressing criticism of the Twin City Liner: Court of Auditors sounds the alarm

The controversial practices of the Twin City Liner are in focus following a recently published audit report by the Court of Auditors (RH). The results, published after a detailed analysis, bring to light a number of critical points affecting the shipping company, half of which is owned by the City of Vienna.

The Twin City Liner offers trips from Vienna to Bratislava, a popular destination that many Viennese use as a day trip. Passengers can experience the picturesque Danube dam, which is considered an attractive travel option. But the joy of this connection has been greatly dampened by the latest revelations.

Criticism of ticket prices and advertising expenditure

The main focus of the report is the high ticket prices, which average around 43.10 euros for a trip in 2024. These fares are not considered competitive compared to other means of transport such as train, bus or car. As a result, return journeys from Bratislava in particular are often only moderately busy, a problem that could be alleviated by introducing combination tickets.

In addition, advertising and PR expenditure was examined. This shows that the actual expenses are often well above the originally set budgets. In 2019, for example, 347,000 euros were spent on advertising, while only 234,000 euros were budgeted, which corresponds to a significant excess of 48 percent. A violation of the budget requirements, especially in 2020 and 2022, causes additional dissatisfaction.

The Court also found that neither twin city liner GmbH nor Wien Holding could prove that the owners were informed about the budget overruns or had given their consent. However, according to Wien Holding, there should be a reporting structure that makes budget deviations visible.

Another point of criticism was the lack of a marketing strategy. The report highlights a lack of audience concepts that could support an effective advertising and PR strategy. The absence of such an approach could affect the efficiency of the resources used, which the Court believes the CDR should urgently improve.

Check integration options

The report also suggests examining the possible integration of the company into DDSG Blue Danube, in which Wien Holding also holds shares. The considerations have been around since 2016, but there has been no progress in implementation. The CDR argues that deeper cooperation could bring benefits as it draws on the DDSG's technical and nautical staff and distributes tickets for the Twin City Liner at points of sale.

Wien Holding has already said in a statement that the topic is again central to the discussion, but that there are some challenges due to the different partners involved in the DDSG. Nevertheless, those responsible see a strategic partnership between the two companies that could exploit synergies in the Wien Holding group.

For further information on the financial and operational indicators of the Twin City Liner from 2019 to 2023, we recommend taking a look at the detailed statistics published in the Court of Auditors' documents.

The statements from the Court of Auditors are a clear call for review and optimization of the CDR. The findings could have far-reaching consequences for the company's pricing and marketing strategies. Such changes may be necessary in order to remain competitive and to ensure the attractiveness of Danube shipping, which is of great importance for passengers.