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LIVING IN AUSTRIA

Austria to launch new overnight international train routes next year

With new night trains to top destinations in France, Germany, Poland and Romania as well as improved commuter connections, here is how Austrian train company ÖBB is planning to strengthen its routes next year.

Published: 21 October 2021 09:43 CEST
Updated: 23 October 2021 09:42 CEST
A street in Paris with view of the Eiffel Tower
Paris is always a good idea, and soon Austria will have new overnight routes there, as well as to Berlin, Warsaw, and Romania. Photo: Elina Sazonova/Pexels

International night (and day) trains

Night trains will run from Vienna to Paris (via Munich and Strasbourg) three times a week from December 12th, just in time for Christmas.

Starting out from Vienna’s central train station, the route will also stop at St. Pölten, Linz and Salzburg before crossing into Germany. Departures will be at 7.40pm every Monday, Thursday and Saturday, reaching Salzburg at around 10.15pm and arriving in Paris at 9.42am the next day.

Return trips will run every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, leaving Paris at 7.58 am to reach Salzburg at around 7.30am the next morning and Vienna at 10.12am.

A one-way ticket on this route starts at €29.90 for a seat, €59.90 for a couchette, and €89.90 for a space in a sleeping cabin.

And next year, ÖBB will introduce more options for overnight travel abroad, the company announced on Wednesday.

Starting from June 2022, the Vienna-Berlin Nightjet will be extended so that it starts out in Graz.

Graz will also get overnight links to Warsaw with the EuroNight train.

And two overnight routes to Romania are planned, one from Vienna to Cluj-Napoca and one linking Vienna with Bucharest, via Timişoara.

International daytime journeys are also being expanded. The Railjet route that currently links Vienna, Innsbruck and Bregenz will be extended to Frankfurt. And new trains linking Graz with Budapest are also in the works, according to ÖBB.

The timetables for the routes starting in 2022 are not yet completed, so it’s not yet possible to say when departures will be.

Quicker commutes

Domestic services are also seeing expansions.

Timetable changes mean that there will be 15-minute intervals between morning trains from St. Pölten to central Vienna (Meidling and the main train station, Hauptbahnhof).

Away from the capital, ÖBB said that it plans to updated the Graz-Linz route, optimizing timetables and creating more “attractive transfer options for travelers from Carinthia to Upper Austria and Graz to Germany”.

For local and regional transport, ÖBB said it would be adding an extra 1.4 million kilometres of transport, although the exact details of which routes will see extensions or more regular trains are not available yet.

Improvements onboard

A new fleet of 33 Nightjet trains are being built, but won’t be in service until 2023. In the meantime, 22 night trains are being upgraded from seated carriages to couchette cars for more comfortable overnight travel.

The company is developing a tool called ÖBB Live so you can see things like wheelchair spaces, bicycle parking spaces, toilets, quiet areas and family areas to help you choose the right seat when you book.

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LIVING IN AUSTRIA

How can I move into affordable cooperative housing in Vienna?

If you are looking for affordable, high-quality housing with a community feeling in Vienna, applying for a Genossenschaftswohnung, cooperative housing, is a great idea.

Published: 5 February 2024 14:03 CET
How can I move into affordable cooperative housing in Vienna?

Vienna is considered the most liveable city in the world, and one of the reasons why is its affordable rents, which stand out when compared to rental prices in other European capital cities. Even though the concept of social housing is present all over Austria, its presence is strongest in the capital city.

In Vienna, it is not uncommon to hear about people living in gorgeous and spacious flats while paying less than the monthly rent of a room in cities like London or Paris. However, to be one of the fortunate tenants, you need to know the conditions.

READ ALSO: The essential articles to read if you are moving to Vienna

Genossenschaftswohnungen (cooperative housing) is one of the forms of social housing in the city, aiming to create affordable and high-quality housing for its residents.

The concept of Genossenschaftswohnungen

Cooperatives are spread all over the city and receive housing subsidies from the Austrian state, making affordable living for tenants possible. Cooperative flats are an option for anyone who wants to avoid privately financed rental flats, wishes to belong to a community, be part of decision-making, and cannot or does not want to buy a property.

A strong idea behind the concept of cooperative housing is to create social communities where members engage with each other and develop a sustainable living situation where everyone is involved in making decisions regarding the property.

Decisions are typically made collectively through voting, ensuring all residents have their voices heard.

READ ALSO: The verdict: How family friendly is Vienna?

As a member of cooperative housing, you live at lower running costs but have to pay a significant entry fee as a financial contribution (Genossenschaftsanteil) at the start of the tenancy. 

This payment serves as a form of membership fee and helps with funding the cooperative’s construction, land use, maintenance, and other related costs. The fee is usually reimbursed if the tenant decides to move out.

Requirements needed

To be eligible for cooperative housing, you need to fulfil specific requirements:

  • Depending on the number of people in the household, the annual net income can not exceed the following maximum limits:

One person: € 57,600

Two persons: € 85,830

Three people: € 97,130

Four people: € 108,420

Each additional person: plus € 6,330

  • You need to be over 18 years old when the contract starts.
  • It is necessary to be an Austrian citizen, EU citizen, EEA citizen or non-EU citizen who either has a residence permit or is a refugee under the Geneva Convention.
  • You need to have lived in Vienna for two years when you apply.
  • The financial contribution (Genossenschaftsanteil) needs to be paid. The amount varies but is typically around € 50-500 per square meter. If necessary, you can apply for a loan at MA 50, the municipal department that deals with housing in the city. 

How to apply

If you want to live in a cooperative flat, you need to make a reservation for the specific housing project you are interested in. You can do this online, but since the waiting lists could be long, your chances may increase if you remain persistent and express your interest in the community – knowing people who already live in the building you are interested in may also help as some contracts allow apartments to be “passed on” to a person chosen by the renter.

READ ALSO: How much does it cost to live in Vienna in 2024?

Usually, you have to fill out a form when you register before applying to a residence. Many cooperatives consider your income and living situation. They might prioritize your application if they find that you are in particular need of a flat, such as if you have a family, low income, or a disability.

Various websites offer cooperative flats in Vienna genossenschaften.immo and Wohnservice Wien are two of them.

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