Rail transport between Germany and Austria is booming, with passenger numbers expected to increase by 40% by the end of the year.
In response to this growing demand, Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) are expanding cross-border long-distance service between the two countries.
From December, DB and ÖBB will be offering an additional ICE connection between Berlin and Vienna via Nuremberg. The route will also be extended to Hamburg, giving the major northern German city another daily connection to the Austrian capital.
In addition, DB and ÖBB will be offering an ICE journey from Berlin to Innsbruck and back via Frankfurt and Stuttgart every day, instead of only on weekends.
Dr. Sabine Stock, ÖBB executive board member for Passenger Transport said: "By 2030, we want to double the number of passengers on Nightjet trains. Deutsche Bahn plays an important role since many Nightjet lines begin and end in Germany. The new connections from Berlin to Paris and Brussels and the new generation of Nightjet trains in Germany are sending a strong signal of DB's and ÖBB's confidence in night train service and intentions to expand the portfolio."
Long-distance trains will also connect Munich and Salzburg once an hour between around 6 am and 9 pm. Daily trains will connect Innsbruck and Munich every two hours.
ÖBB and DB are also investing in new trains. Beginning with the timetable change, ICE 4 trains will be used on the Frankfurt–Munich–Salzburg–Klagenfurt route. The ICE-4 has been in operation since 2017 and has been gradually replacing the older Intercity and Eurocity train sets.
The new generation of Railjets, which will gradually be introduced on the route between Munich and Italy beginning April 2024. The Railjet is based on the Siemens Viaggio trainset, which runs at a maximum speed of 230 km/h and runs a multi-system concept, meaning single and complete trainsets can run.
Stefanie Berk, member of the DB Fernverkehr Management Board for Marketing: "More and more people in Germany and Austria are taking the climate-friendly train when they travel to neighbouring countries. We want to boost growth even further with new trains, more comfort and convenience, and more connections. This can only be achieved through a joint effort by the rail companies involved. We're responding to this growing demand by expanding the international timetable in close cooperation with ÖBB."
With the new Nightjet concept, ÖBB and DB are also expanding their night service partnership. The two companies will begin offering Nightjet connections from Berlin and Vienna to Paris and Brussels this December. These connections will initially run three times a week, then daily beginning in the fall of 2024.
In addition to the expansion of long-distance services, DB and ÖBB are also working to improve regional rail services in Germany and Austria. This includes introducing new trains, improving infrastructure, and making it easier for people to buy tickets.
Photo Credit: OBB
