Teenager Assaults Train Conductor Over Expired Discount Card

A 19-year-old from St. Pölten faced legal proceedings for attempted bodily harm against a train conductor of the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). The incident occurred earlier this year in a train near Absdorf (Statzendorf), just before Herzogenburg. The accused allegedly grabbed a train conductor by the neck during a ticket inspection and held him for several seconds.

The defendant, who had no prior criminal record, stated that he was returning home with a friend after viewing an apartment in St. Pölten. He failed to notice that his ÖBB discount card had expired and had purchased a reduced fare ticket instead. When the conductor alerted him to the expired card, the accused expressed his willingness to pay the fine but requested the return of the expired card. The conductor refused, fearing it would be used again illegally, which provoked the young man's anger. Additional conductors subsequently arrived at the scene.

According to one conductor's testimony, during the confrontation, the young man allegedly held one of her colleagues by the neck for two to four seconds and also raised his fist. Consequently, she contacted the police. Another conductor had to push the defendant away to break the hold. While the affected conductor did not sustain any injuries, she experienced difficulty swallowing for a period afterward. The defendant eventually admitted to having grabbed the ÖBB employee by the neck.

The case was resolved through a diversion process, requiring the young man to complete 80 hours of community service.