1976-1979

Shaping the future with new ideas

Blaguss Reisen GmbH and the bus division of the Austrian Federal Railways drew up a joint public transport scheme for central Burgenland. The services from Vienna to Oberpullendorf were operated jointly. Passengers benefited in several ways from this joint transportation system: more frequent service, shorter travel times for commuters, introduction of express routes, comfortable and modern busses. In fact this scheme anticipated advantages commuters in other places did not enjoy until after the introduction of regional transportation associations in 1988.

Blaguss has had a substantial stake in Austratrans Kraftfahrlinienbetriebs-gesellschaft m.b.H. since 1976. This company operates an average of eight lines for guest workers to Yugoslavia, all departing from Vienna’s south train station.

Incoming business was going well and the Burgenland was being discovered as an appealing holiday destination. To market these products more efficiently, the province of Burgenland and Blaguss Reisen established Burgenland Tours GmbH in June 1976.

With the subsequent establishment of travel agencies in Eisenstadt and Mattersburg, Blaguss made available modern full-service travel agencies to customers in all the district seats of northern and central Burgenland. Modern and comfortable Mercedes 0 302 and 0 303 coaches were added to the fleet.

On the occasion of its 50th anniversary on 9 November 1979, Blaguss Reisen GmbH was awarded the State Prize of the Republic of Austria and the right to bear the Austrian official coat of arms.

At this point the company had 147 employees and operated 42 buses.