The ÖBB competitor Western Railway starts its journeys on March 1st Southern Railway on. Two new train sets required for this would be delivered in mid-February. From March 16th, a third train will serve the Vienna-Villach route and back five times a day, said Westbahn managing directors Thomas Posch and Marco Ramsbacher.
The Westbahn would have liked a fourth set, but didn’t get it.
Even if the three trains had been delivered earlier, the Westbahn would have liked to start the southern connection earlier. It should take 3:30 hours from Vienna to Villach. Although this is hardly the fastest connection, it does offer four additional stops that are not served by the ÖBB on the direct connection, in addition to Wiener Neustadt, the tourist destinations of Semmering, Klopeiner See and Pörtschach, said Posch. You can drive to Lake Klopein from Vienna in less than three hours.
Westbahn: Quota for cheap tickets
The Westbahn will offer a contingent of cheap tickets on every connection. How many there are depends on the expected volume of travel. From Vienna to Graz It should go from 8.99 euros, from Vienna to any destination in Carinthia for 18.99 euros, from Graz to Carinthia for 8.99.
The full price for a trip from Vienna to Graz is 39.90 euros, from Vienna to Klagenfurt 59.90 euros. However, most passengers either have a discount card or would pay less as seniors.
Westbahn is proud that every online booking includes a seat reservation at no extra charge. Anyone traveling with the climate ticket can also book a seat at no extra charge. The Westbahn cannot solve the organizational problem that you are not allowed to travel from Graz to Villach with two regional climate tickets for Styria and Carinthia, said Posch. But he is confident that “the last word has not yet been spoken”.
From 2030 on an hourly basis
From the end of 2029/beginning of 2030, with the opening of the Semmering Tunnel, the Westbahn wants to between Vienna and Klagenfurt drive every hour. In order to get the necessary trains, you have to order as early as 2026. This expansion of the offer is not linked to the controversial purchase of sets from the Chinese manufacturer CRRC; the trains from China will be used on the Western Railway line in the future.
Vehicles leased from the manufacturer Stadler for an initial period of six years are now being used on the southern railway and are to be maintained by Stadler in Siebenbrunn. The maintenance will take place overnight so that the trains can be used continuously. Posch expects “99.7 percent” availability. The Westbahn will create around 80 new jobs for the new connection; they are looking for employees, said Ramsbacher. In addition, there are investments and personnel from Stadler.