Austria – Westbahn launches new commercial services on the Koralm Railway, in competition with ÖBB’s taxpayer-funded services | ALLRAIL

Austria – Westbahn launches new commercial services on the Koralm Railway, in competition with ÖBB’s taxpayer-funded services

Yesterday, with the launch of its services on the new Southern Line (Südstrecke) between Vienna, Graz, Klagenfurt and Villach (through the new Koralm tunnel), the private operator Westbahn introduced SMILE high-speed trains.

Brand-New High-Speed Trains, Built in Europe

➣ Big boost for the EU High-Speed Rail Plan
➣ Superior levels of comfort and accessibility
➣ Energy-efficient technology

This private investment demonstrates strong confidence in the commercial viability of Austria’s long-distance rail market.

More Choice and More Frequencies for Passengers

Passengers on the new Koralm Railway line between Vienna, Graz, Klagenfurt and Villach now benefit from:

➣ Genuine operator choice
➣ Increased service frequencies
➣ Lower fares

Just a few months after it opened, travellers on this line can now choose between competing long-distance services.

Open Access vs Direct Award

Westbahn operates commercially and at its own risk, in an Open Access manner, without taxpayer subsidies.

However, the state-owned incumbent operator Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) operates long-distance services on the very same route under directly awarded, taxpayer-subsidised contracts. In other words, Westbahn must compete not only against the incumbent – but against the taxpayer.

ALLRAIL Secretary General Nick Brooks says:

“The Koralm Railway is therefore not only a major infrastructure project — it is a real-world test of whether PSO concession services costing the taxpayer are justified. In the EU single market, why should the taxpayer fund one operator – when the other proves that this is not necessary?”