Travel woe in strike-hit Austria

Commuting misery is to continue until early Friday

Austria's 1.2 million commuters are struggling after the main rail union started a complete strike.

Roads into main cities were clogged, while in Vienna, the underground railway and trams were more crowded than usual.

None of the state rail company's 7,000 trains or 800 buses was running.

The strike was called to protest against a draft law to reform the rail service and cut costs by 1bn euros ($1.2bn; £690m) a year.

The industrial action, the first all-out strike in Austria since the end of World War II, probably will run until early Friday, officials said.

Job cuts

The government's plan calls for the national railway OeBB to be broken up into four separate businesses.

The divisions will then be responsible for building infrastructure, maintenance and management, passenger transportation and freight operations.

Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel insists the reforms, which will include job cuts, are key to the survival of the company.

The union, however, says the split is the first step towards the privatisation of the whole industry and would result in fewer pay rises and higher overall costs.

The proposal has also angered the opposition Social Democrat Party and the Greens, whose leaders have expressed solidarity with the rail workers.

Post office workers suspended deliveries on Wednesday to show support for the strikers.

The country's principal auditing bureau, meanwhile, has described the goal of saving 1bn euros as "unrealistic."