Westbahn, a prominent Austrian private railway operator, has unveiled plans to extend its services to southern Austria. New routes will connect Vienna with Graz, Klagenfurt, and Villach. This strategic expansion will commence on March 1, 2026, significantly enhancing the region’s rail connectivity.
Starting from the specified date, Westbahn will operate five daily round-trip services between Vienna and Villach. The trains will depart from Vienna Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) and make stops at Vienna Meidling, Wiener Neustadt, Semmering, Bruck an der Mur, Graz, and Klagenfurt before concluding in Villach.
Stadler SMILE EMUs in Westbahn design
Westbahn will obtain three Stadler SMILE high-speed EMUs to facilitate this expansion – SBB uses the same type of train as RABe 501 ‘Giruno’. Like the SBB units, they will boast a top speed of 250 km/h and comprise 11 coaches, extending to 202 meters. Each Westbahn train will offer 422 seats (288x Standard Class (2), 115x Comfort Class (2+), and 19x First Class (1).
Stadler Rail: “The three SMILE trains will be integrated into Westbahn’s regular passenger service from March 2026, less than two years after the contract is signed, and will expand the existing KISS double-decker service. Commissioning normally takes four to five years.”
Passengers can anticipate enhanced comfort with leather seating, individual 230V power sockets at every seat, and accessibility features such as two step-free, level-access entrances and stairless access throughout the train. Additionally, bike spaces are available to accommodate cyclists.
Infrastructural constraints
The decision to buy Stadler SMILE EMUs stems from current infrastructural constraints. Due to structural limitations, Westbahn’s existing double-decker KISS trainsets (too high for example) cannot operate on the southern routes until the completion of the Semmering Base Tunnel.
While the initial phase includes five daily connections, Westbahn intends to expand its services on the southern line further. The company is also evaluating the possibility of additional stops to cater to a broader passenger base.
Railcolor comments
- Westbahn is leasing the EMUs for a period of 6 years – until then Westbahn will take its time to plan further operations.
- In the images released today, the SMILE looks a bit different – indeed the front section just above the snow plough is a little different compared to the SBB version.
For comparison – the existing SBB version of the Stadler SMILE:
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