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19. 12. 08. - 15:00

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19. 12. 08. - 15:00

Vienna has first Muslim tram driver wearing a headscarf

Vienna public-transport agency Wiener Linien has hired the first female Muslim tram driver who wears a headscarf while working.

An agency spokesman has said Wiener Linien is "very satisfied" with the woman, who has been working since the beginning of December. He added there had been no complaints about her by the public.

The agency is unwilling to disclose her identity since she wants it kept secret.

The FPÖ, however, has been upset by the news. The party is planning to ask Vienna SPÖ Mayor Michael Häupl if he is "willing to impose a ban on the wearing of headscarves on public transport."

The FPÖ will do so today (Fri) during the question period at the city-government meeting. The party reportedly complained about the woman while she was in training for her new job in the autumn.

Tram drivers have been able to wear headgear of their choice since September 2004, when the regulation requiring them to wear official agency caps was changed.

The agency announced plans last week to install safer doors on city trams in the wake of a series of accidents - including one death - caused by passengers being trapped by closing doors.

Radio Wien and a free city newspaper have reported that the agency will have completed the work on all 130 old power trams and 110 old trailer-cars by the end of 2009 at a cost of some 500,000 Euros.

The most-serious accident caused by tram doors in the past year occurred on 20 December 2007, when a 54-year-old man attempted to catch a line "N" tram. As he attempted to board it, its door closed on his arm and caused him to fall beneath its wheels. He died on the spot.

Wiener Linien has always insisted the doors on older trams are safe, but something has obviously changed. The agency's Michael Lichtenegger said: "The new doors will be able to sense the presence of objects that were too small to be detected by sensors in the old doors and won't close as long as such objects are in the way."

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