Austrian railway news
News about railway and urban rail infrastructure, operations, policy, projects and the supply industry in Austria.
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NewsÖBB orders more battery trains to cut diesel consumption
AUSTRIA: Austrian Federal Railways is expecting to save around 500 000 litres of diesel a year after it takes delivery of a further seven Stadler Flirt Akku Cityjet battery-electric multiple-units.
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News‘Thoroughly positive’ results from digital automatic coupler testing in winter conditions
AUSTRIA: ÖBB Rail Cargo Group has undertaken endurance testing with its digital automatic coupler demonstrator train in winter conditions including temperatures down to -15°C, freezing rain and fresh snow
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NewsWestbahn launches Wien – Villach open access services
AUSTRIA: Open access passenger operator Westbahn expanded its network significantly on March 1 with the launch of services between Wien, Graz, Klagenfurt and Villach via the recently-opened Koralmbahn.
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NewsAustrian Federal Railways restructuring planned
AUSTRIA: The Federal Minister for Innovation, Mobility & Infrastructure has tasked Austrian Federal Railways with developing a restructuring plan to make the national railway more agile, efficient and future-proof.
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NewsDigital automatic coupler demonstration train goes on a grand tour
AUSTRIA: ÖBB Rail Cargo Group’s digital automatic coupler demonstration train is to undertake a ‘grand tour’ of the national network during 2026 to assess operation under a wide range of different scenarios.
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In depthComment: A shot across the bows
The controversy over Austrian open access operator Westbahn’s deployment of Chinese-built EMUs should give the European rail supply industry reason to reflect on its own competitiveness, argues our Executive Editor Nick Kingsley.
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NewsKKR invests in locomotive leasing company at a ‘critical moment’ for European rail
EUROPE: Global investment company KKR is to acquire a majority stake in leasing company Green Mobility Partners, providing support for organic growth and strategic acquisitions.
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NewsPJM diagnostic equipment fitted to Plasser & Theurer machine
AUSTRIA: Plasser & Theurer has completed a prototype fitment of PJM’s vehicle status diagnostic tools on a ballast management train.
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NewsEurope’s ‘number one rail country’ celebrates Koralmbahn opening
AUSTRIA: The 130 km Koralmbahn railway formally opened for traffic on December 12, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to forge a direct rail link between Wien and the southwest of the country. Toma Bačić reports from the celebrations.
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NewsHydrogen transport container developed to support green steel ambitions
AUSTRIA: The H2Tainer designed for rail and road transport of hydrogen for use in the production of green steel has been developed by Innofreight, steelmaker Voestalpine Tubulars and HyCentA.
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NewsWabtec finalises acquisition of Frauscher Sensor Technology Group
AUSTRIA: Wabtec has finalised its previously announced acquisition of Frauscher Sensor Technology Group, which supplies train detection, wayside object control and axle-counting systems.
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NewsA European rolling stock ‘oligopoly’ is harming railway companies and passengers, says open access operator
EUROPE: Open access operator Westbahn has described the European rolling stock market as an ‘oligopoly’ dominated by a few manufacturers, leading to reduce choice, long delivery times and high costs.
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NewsCER Cargo Group to buy Austrian rail freight operator WLC
AUSTRIA: Hungarian rail freight company CER Cargo Group has agreed to acquire Wiener Lokalbahnen Cargo.
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NewsWestbahn to put Chinese-built double-deck trainsets into service soon
AUSTRIA: Following a long approval process, four double-deck electric multiple units supplied by China’s CRRC are to enter passenger service with Westbahn in the coming weeks.
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NewsSiemens Mobility increases use ‘green steel’ in rolling stock production
EUROPE: Siemens Mobility is working with Voestalpine to increase the share of lower-emission ‘green steel’ it uses in rolling stock production.
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NewsPlasser & Theurer invests in apprentices to tackle skills shortage
AUSTRIA: ‘If we need skilled employees, it is up to the company to train them and invest in the qualification of its young talent’, Plasser & Theurer CEO Johannes Max-Theurer said at the opening of a €1m apprentice training centre at the track machine manufacturer’s Linz site.
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NewsAlpha Trains orders more electro-diesel locomotives for use in Germany and Austria
EUROPE: Leasing company Alpha Trains has awarded Siemens Mobility a firm order to supply and maintain a further 15 Vectron Dual Mode electro-diesel freight locomotives.
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NewsParis to Wien and Berlin night trains to end after French government withdraws subsidy
EUROPE: The Paris – Wien and Paris – Berlin sleeper train services are to end with the December 14 2025 timetable change, following the French Ministry of Transport’s decision to withdraw funding for their operation.
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NewsBrenner Base Tunnel exploratory bore broken through
EUROPE: A celebratory event has marked the breakthrough of the exploratory tube of what will be the world’s longest railway tunnel.
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NewsGraz-Köflacher Bahn launches electric trains to Wies-Eibiswald
AUSTRIA: Graz-Köflacher Bahn has begun electric operation of S-Bahn Steiermark service S6 from Graz Hbf via Hengsberg and Wettmannstätten to Wies-Eibiswald.