Private open-access operator WESTbahn has begun operations on Austria’s Südbahn or Southern Railway for the first time, entering into direct competition with state-owned ÖBB on the Vienna–Graz–Klagenfurt–Villach corridor with what it calls the country’s “fastest trains”.
After months of preparation, WESTbahn launched services on 1 March, marking its long-anticipated move onto the Southern Railway. Trains now run from Vienna Central Station via Vienna Meidling and Wiener Neustadt to Bruck an der Mur, Graz, Kühnsdorf-Klopeiner See, Klagenfurt, Pörtschach am Wörthersee and Villach near the Italian/Slovenian border. Initially, three daily return trips are being operated, rising in phases to five daily connections in each direction from 29 May.
The expansion by WESTbahn, majority-owned by Austrian industrialist Hans Peter Haselsteiner, with SNCF also holding a stake, is closely tied to the opening of the Koralmbahn high-speed section. The new infrastructure has significantly shortened journey times between Graz and Klagenfurt and allowed sustained higher speeds along the corridor, drastically reshaping the commercial dynamics of the route.
Taking advantage of the upgrade, WESTbahn is deploying new Stadler SMILE trainsets capable of 250 km/h — the fastest in Austria – on a line long dominated by the incumbent. The operator cites a Vienna–Villach journey time of around three and a half hours, placing it directly alongside ÖBB’s Railjet services, which operate at up to 230 km/h.
“1 March 2026 will be a historic day for WESTbahn and for rail travellers in Austria: WESTbahn will be travelling south for the first time,” said Managing Director Thomas Posch last year on launching the plans. “We want to put an end to the quality deficits in rail traffic on the southern route and demonstrate how reliable, comfortable and high-quality rail travel can be achieved.”
WESTbahn has said it expects the Southern Line operation to reach profitability within three years, potentially earlier.
Stadler’s SMILE high-speed trains
For the move south, the company has introduced three new 11-car Stadler SMILE high-speed trainsets. Each unit measures 202 metres in length and offers 422 seats across three comfort classes, including 288 in Standard Class. The trains are leased for six years, with an option to purchase or extend the lease, and represent an investment of around €120 million.
Technically, the SMILE marks a shift for the operator, which previously relied on Stadler KISS double-deck EMUs on the Western Line. The new single-deck high-speed configuration is designed for sustained 250 km/h running on Austria’s upgraded infrastructure. Onboard, the trains feature leather seating, power sockets at every seat, Wi-Fi throughout, two step-free PRM entrances enabling level access through the train, bicycle spaces, as well as WESTbahn’s Relax Check-in and free seat reservation system. KlimaTicket Austria is accepted on the services.
WESTbahn takes on ÖBB
The launch marks a structural shift in Austria’s long-distance rail market. Since entering the Vienna–Salzburg corridor in 2011, WESTbahn has challenged ÖBB on the Western Line, but the Southern Railway has until now remained under the incumbent’s control. The new operation will test the practical maturity of Austria’s open-access regime on a second core corridor, particularly given past disputes over track access, infrastructure charging and data provision that went so far as to require regulatory intervention. Read RailTech’s full report below.