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Austria’s rail company ÖBB to invest in new double-decker trains

ÖBB is investing €600 million in double-decker Railjets and Cityjets for the Westbahn line from 2026 onwards. Here's what's coming.

Published: 6 July 2023 16:21 CEST
Austria's rail company ÖBB to invest in new double-decker trains
An Austrian ÖBB train speeds through the country. (© ÖBB / Harald Eisenberger)

ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways) is set to introduce double-decker express trains on the Western train line from 2026 onwards, increasing passenger capacity and improving comfort. 

The state railway has ordered 14 double-decker Railjets from the Swiss company Stadler, each spanning 160 meters long. With a top speed of 200 km/h, these trains will offer approximately 480 seats, a 19 percent increase compared to the existing Railjets, the company said in a press release.

“People are willing to switch to public transport if it is cheap, comfortable, and attractive. With the new double-decker trains, ÖBB is meeting this demand.”, said Transport Minister Leonore Gewessler. The introduction of these trains coincides with the completion of the Semmering Base Tunnel (Semmering-Basistunnel), enabling them to operate on the southern route as well.

READ ALSO: The ten best destinations by direct night train from Austria

What will the trains look like?

ÖBB’s investment in the double-decker Railjets aims to provide additional seating capacity and facilitate faster passenger changes. 

The new trains boast several features, including low-floor boarding and areas with improved accessibility, amenities such as USB connections in every row, free WLAN, the ÖBB Railnet onboard portal, and real-time information displays. Furthermore, the trains offer automatic air conditioning and video surveillance.

The purchase of these double-decker Railjets marks another milestone in ÖBB’s collaboration with Stadler, following their successful partnership with Westbahn, ÖBB’s private competitor. ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä expressed confidence in the partnership, emphasising Stadler’s reputation for delivering trains on schedule. The order also includes 21 Cityjet double-decker trains for the eastern Austrian region, bringing the total investment to €600 million.

READ ALSO: Five Austrian destinations you can reach by train to escape the heat

Increasing demand

While ÖBB awaits the delivery of the new rolling trains, it has experienced a significant surge in passenger numbers, driven by factors such as the Klimaticket offer, rising fuel prices, and a growing preference for environmentally friendly transportation. Acknowledging the challenges posed by increased demand, ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä said that the new trains would alleviate overcrowding and enhance the overall travel experience for passengers.

ÖBB’s plans include a potential framework contract for up to 540 trains to modernise local transport and introduce new sets for regional routes. The agreement, currently shrouded in secrecy, is expected to replace the ageing regional trains, including the “Talent-2” model, and attract bids from major train manufacturers.

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VISAS

Cost for getting a short-stay Schengen visa to rise on June 11th

The fee for getting a Schengen visa will rise by 12 percent in June, the European Commission has confirmed.

Published: 4 June 2024 14:52 CEST
Cost for getting a short-stay Schengen visa to rise on June 11th

The hike means the basic fee for a Schengen visa will rise from €80 to €90 for adults and from €40 to €45 for children. The reason for the price hike has been blamed on inflation in member states.

Schengen visas can be obtained by non-EU citizens from countries that do not benefit from the EU / Schengen area’s 90-day rule such as such as nationals of South Africa, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and China.

Schengen visas are not required for citizens of countries including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia who are paying short visits to the EU, since they are entitled to 90 days of visa-free travel in every 180.

Anyone who wants to spend longer in an EU country will need to apply for a long-stay visa – but these are issued by individual countries, not the EU. The cost of these visas vary depending on the country and the type of visa (eg study visa, work visa).

In addition to raising the basic fee to €90, the EU has also proposed hiking the fee even higher for those countries who are deemed not be cooperative with receiving expelled citizens back from member states.

In this case the Schengen visa fee for citizens from that country will rise from €120/€160 to €135 /€180.

In addition, the revision of visa fees impacts the maximum amount that external service providers collecting visa applications on behalf of member states can charge, which is usually set at up to half the standard fee.

This charge would increase from €40 to €45.

The fee for a Schengen visa extension will remain at €30.

Revised every three years

Every three years the EU Commission is tasked to assess whether new fees are needed, considering “objective criteria”, such as the EU inflation rate and the average of civil servants’ salaries in EU member states.

The Commission published its proposal on February 2nd, following a meeting with experts from EU member states in December, when an “overwhelming majority” supported the revision.

The Commission says that even with the increase, the visa fees for the Schengen area are “still relatively low” compared to other countries. For instance, a visa for the USA costs €185, or €172; for the UK it starts from £115 (€134); for Canada it is $100 plus $85 for biometrics, or €130; for Australia $190, the equivalent of €117.

Digital-only visa

The EU is also planning to introduce a digital-only Schengen visa. This will allow to apply online, regardless of the Schengen country applicants intend to visit, and will replace the current sticker in passports with a digital visa.

According to the European Commission website, the digital platform will start operating in 2028.

Who needs a Schengen visa

The Schengen visa allows a stay for tourism or family visits (but not for work) in 28 European countries for up to 90 days in any 6-month period. People travelling for business trips, conferences or meetings apply for a Schengen business visa.

Anyone who wants to stay longer, or to work, needs a visa from the country they intend to visit.

The Schengen visa is required for citizens of countries who do not benefit from the ‘90-day rule’, such as nationals of South Africa, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and China.

It is not needed for other non-EU nationals such as Brits, Americans, Canadians or Australians who can spend up to 90 days in every 180 in the Schengen area without needing a visa. You can see the full list of countries who need a visa here.

Schengen countries include EU member states, excluding Ireland (which opted out), Cyprus, and Bulgaria and Romania for land borders. Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein and Switzerland are not EU members but have also joined the Schengen Convention.

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