German and Austrian Railways expand cross-border services

2023-09-19 00:00:00

German and Austrian Railways expand cross-border services

They aim to double the number of passengers using Nightjet night trains by 2030

The German Railways, DB, and the Austrian Railways, OBB, have expanded their cross-border services with passenger numbers expected to increase by 40 percent in the next five years.

(18/09/2023)

This will expand services from Intercity Express, ICE, and agreements to provide night service. Both operators expect passenger numbers to increase by 40 percent over the next five years and have announced their goal of doubling the number of passengers using Nightjet night trains by 2030. Their alliance also involves investment in new trains.

Starting with the timetable adjustment, ICE 4 trains will be used on the Frankfurt-Munich-Salzburg-Klagenfurt route. The timetable changes will be accompanied by the introduction of another ICE connection between Berlin and Vienna, via Nuremberg, a plan intended to provide Hamburg with another daily connection to Vienna. Starting in December 2023, DB and OBB will also offer a daily ICE route from Berlin to Innsbruck and back via Frankfurt and Stuttgart, instead of just on weekends.

The new connections from Berlin to Paris and Brussels and the new generation of Nightjet trains in Germany show DB and BB’s confidence in the night train service, and their intentions to expand the portfolio.
The new OBB Nightjet trains will enter service in 2023/24 and will be used on the Hamburg-Vienna and Hamburg-Innsbruck routes. According to OBB, the Nightjets will travel at speeds of up to 230 km/h and will have connections in Austria, Germany and Italy throughout 2024.