Railjet

Railjet is a branded high-speed passenger rail service developed by Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) and later adopted in a related form by Czech Railways (ČD). It links major Austrian cities with neighboring European capitals and regional centers, combining high-speed intercity operation with multiple onboard service classes. The service is identified as Railjet (RJ) when it makes more frequent stops and Railjet Express (RJX) on selected faster routes. Railjet trains can operate at speeds of up to 230 km/h, although actual journey times and maximum speeds depend on infrastructure, border arrangements, route geometry, and traffic conditions. The concept emerged from ÖBB's decision to use locomotive-hauled push-pull trains rather than electric multiple units such as those used by some other European high-speed operators. This approach enabled ÖBB to use its existing Siemens Taurus electric locomotives while adding purpose-built passenger coaches and control cars. Siemens Mobility won the initial production contract in February 2006 after a competitive tender. The original order covered 23 seven-car trainsets, followed by a larger supplementary order in 2007. The first completed train was publicly presented in September 2008, and commercial operation began on 14 December 2008 on the Munich–Vienna–Budapest corridor. Railjet progressively replaced older EuroCity and InterCity services on important domestic and international routes. Its Austrian network grew around the Westbahn between Vienna and Salzburg, the routes through Innsbruck to western Austria and Switzerland, the southern railway corridors toward Graz and Villach, and international links to Prague, Budapest, Munich, Frankfurt, Bratislava, Venice, and destinations along the Brenner route in Italy. Service patterns have changed over time as infrastructure projects, competing EuroCity and ICE services, and timetable revisions altered the network. The brand also uses coupled trainsets on some routes, allowing capacity to be adjusted by joining or separating two complete formations at operational hubs. A standard ÖBB Railjet formation consists of seven or nine permanently coupled coaches, including a driving trailer, premium and first-class accommodation, a restaurant or bistro section, and economy-class coaches. The trains provide three service levels: Business, First, and Economy. Business Class offers premium open-plan seating at the control-car end; First Class provides more spacious seating and additional accessibility facilities; and Economy Class supplies the largest share of seats, including family-oriented areas on relevant formations. Onboard catering and at-seat service have been important elements of the product proposition, although individual facilities vary by trainset and operating arrangement. The exterior and interior design was developed with Spirit Design. A public vote organized through the Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung helped select the livery used for the fleet, and the design received a Red Dot award in 2009. Siemens markets the underlying passenger-coach platform as Viaggio Comfort. ÖBB remains the principal Railjet operator and brand steward, while ČD operates its own Railjet formations on international services centered on Prague, Brno, Vienna, and Graz. As of 2025, Railjet is an active cross-border rail brand serving Austria and a broad group of adjacent European markets.

Railjet was created as ÖBB's flagship long-distance rail product during the 2000s. Rather than purchasing a fleet of electric multiple units, ÖBB selected locomotive-hauled push-pull formations. The model allowed the railway to use its existing Siemens Taurus electric locomotives while introducing new passenger coaches with a dedicated premium-service identity. The trains were intended to provide higher-quality and faster intercity travel on both domestic Austrian routes and international corridors. After a tender process, ÖBB awarded Siemens Mobility the initial production contract on 9 February 2006. The order covered 23 seven-coach trainsets. Siemens received a further order for 44 trainsets in September 2007, bringing the planned fleet to 469 passenger carriages and a reported contract value of €798 million. The first Railjet was unveiled in Graz on 15 September 2008 and subsequently displayed at InnoTrans and the Salzburger Verkehrstage. Test operation began later in 2008, followed by the first commercial service on 14 December 2008 between Munich, Vienna, and Budapest. The initial international route gradually displaced the previous EuroCity connection. During 2009 and 2010, Railjet expanded westward from Vienna to Zürich and Bregenz through Salzburg and Innsbruck. Improvements on Austria's Westbahn enabled faster operation between Vienna and Salzburg; after infrastructure works completed in December 2012, the journey between the two cities was approximately two hours and twenty minutes on the fastest services. Railjet also expanded southward, beginning operations toward Graz and Klagenfurt/Villach in 2011. A former extension to Lienz operated from 2013 to 2017 but was subsequently replaced by InterCity service, with Railjet continuing as far as Spittal an der Drau on relevant routes. The relationship between Railjet and Czech Railways developed through a separate procurement process. In 2011, Siemens agreed to sell 16 trainsets to ČD, but the original arrangement was cancelled in 2012 and replaced by a smaller order for seven Viaggio Comfort trainsets. ČD inaugurated a Railjet connection from Wiener Neustadt to Prague in June 2014, followed by regular Graz–Prague services through Vienna and Brno in December of that year. ČD Railjets use a somewhat different interior arrangement from the standard ÖBB formation, with one additional economy-class coach in place of one ÖBB first-class coach. Railjet's route network continued to evolve through timetable changes and infrastructure openings. Services began using Wien Hauptbahnhof from December 2014, with wider integration through the station and the Lainz Tunnel following in 2015. From December 2016, new trainsets replaced additional InterCity services within Austria. In December 2017, the Vienna–Villach corridor was extended through Udine to Venice. From December 2018, selected faster services were branded Railjet Express, or RJX, to distinguish limited-stop operation from regular Railjet services. The first RJX pattern between Salzburg and Vienna stopped only at Linz and St. Pölten. Further international expansions included a Zürich–Bratislava connection through Vienna from December 2018, a Berlin–Graz service through Dresden, Prague, and Vienna from 2020, and a Vienna–Bolzano route through Innsbruck and the Brenner line from the same year. In 2021, ÖBB introduced a revised Railjet Express schedule between Frankfurt and Vienna through Stuttgart, Ulm, Friedrichshafen, Lindau, Bregenz, and Innsbruck. From 2024, Railjet services replaced older EuroCity trains on parts of the Munich–Italy corridor, reaching Verona, Bologna, and Venice. A further service extended to Ancona in 2025 on a seasonal basis. The Railjet fleet uses permanently coupled passenger formations with a driving trailer at one end, allowing push-pull operation without turning the locomotive at terminal stations. Standard formations generally contain seven or nine coaches, although coupled trainsets can provide additional capacity and individual formations may differ. The onboard product is divided into Economy, First, and Business classes. Business seating occupies the forward part of the control car, while first-class accommodation, a restaurant or bistro section, accessibility spaces, family areas, and economy seating occupy the remaining coaches. The trains are designed for operation under multiple national railway systems and can be hauled by Taurus locomotives or compatible electric locomotives, including Vectron variants. Spirit Design created the exterior and interior concept. Three livery proposals were presented, and the final color scheme was selected through a public poll conducted by the Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung. The design received a Red Dot award in 2009. Siemens markets the passenger-coach platform as Viaggio Comfort, while suppliers including Knorr-Bremse and Liebherr provided key braking and climate-control systems. Railjet remains an active ÖBB premium service and one of the principal branded rail links across Central Europe.

• 2025

  Seasonal service extends to Ancona

  [1]Railjeten.wikipedia.org

  A Railjet service on the Brenner corridor was extended from Bologna to Ancona for seasonal operation.

• 2024

  Munich–Italy Railjet services introduced

  [1]Railjeten.wikipedia.org

  Direct services began linking Munich with Verona, Bologna, and Venice through Innsbruck and Bolzano.

• 2020

  Berlin–Graz and Vienna–Bolzano services added

  [1]Railjeten.wikipedia.org

  Railjet expanded its cross-border network with new services through Prague and the Brenner route.

• 2018

  Railjet Express designation introduced

  [1]Railjeten.wikipedia.org

  Faster limited-stop services between Vienna and Salzburg began using the Railjet Express or RJX designation.

• 2017

  Vienna–Venice Railjet connection begins

  [1]Railjeten.wikipedia.org

  The southern network was extended from Vienna and Villach through Udine to Venice.

• 2014

  ČD begins Railjet operation to Prague

  [1]Railjeten.wikipedia.org

  České dráhy inaugurated Railjet service to Prague and later connected Graz with Prague through Vienna and Brno.

• 2011

  Service expands to Austria's southern railway

  [1]Railjeten.wikipedia.org

  Railjet trains began operating from Vienna toward Graz and Klagenfurt/Villach.

• 2009

  Railjet design receives a Red Dot award

  [1]Railjeten.wikipedia.org

  The Spirit Design exterior and interior concept received a Red Dot design award.

• 2008

  First Railjet train unveiled and commercial service begins

  [1]Railjeten.wikipedia.org

  The first train was presented in September, and commercial services began in December between Munich, Vienna, and Budapest.

• 2007

  Additional Railjet order placed

  [1]Railjeten.wikipedia.org

  Siemens received an additional order for 44 trainsets, expanding the planned fleet to 469 passenger carriages.

• 2006

  ÖBB awards the initial Railjet train contract

  [1]Railjeten.wikipedia.org

  ÖBB selected Siemens Mobility to build 23 seven-coach locomotive-hauled high-speed trainsets after a competitive tender.

ÖBB's premium long-distance rail brand, positioned between conventional intercity travel and the highest-speed dedicated rail systems. Railjet emphasizes cross-border connectivity, high journey speeds, multiple service classes, onboard catering, and frequent links between major Central European cities.

• Regular intercity rail service · 2008

  Railjet

  The standard Railjet category covers long-distance services that combine high-speed operation with additional intermediate stops. It is used extensively within Austria and on international routes to neighboring countries. Services use locomotive-hauled push-pull formations with Economy, First, and Business seating, together with restaurant or bistro facilities on applicable trainsets.

• Limited-stop high-speed rail service · 2018

  Railjet Express

  Railjet Express, abbreviated RJX, identifies selected faster services with fewer intermediate stops than ordinary Railjet trains. The designation was introduced to make the difference between limited-stop and stopping patterns clearer to passengers. The Vienna–Salzburg corridor is a key example, with selected RJX services stopping at major stations such as Linz and St. Pölten.

• Passenger train equipment · 2008

  ÖBB Railjet trainsets

  ÖBB Railjet formations generally contain seven or nine permanently coupled coaches, including a control car, premium accommodation, a restaurant or bistro section, and economy coaches. Taurus electric locomotives provide push-pull traction, while compatible locomotives can also be used. The formations are equipped for operation across multiple European railway systems and can be coupled in pairs when additional capacity is required.

• Czech international rail service · 2014

  ČD Railjet

  ČD Railjet is the Czech Railways implementation of the Railjet concept. Its formations operate principally on international routes centered on Prague, Brno, Vienna, and Graz. The interior layout differs from the standard ÖBB arrangement by providing one more economy-class coach and one fewer first-class coach.

• 2024

  Railjet replaces EuroCity services on parts of the Munich–Italy corridorGeneration change

  Background

  ÖBB and partner railways revised services over the Brenner route linking southern Germany, Austria, and northern Italy.

  Action taken

  Direct Railjet services were introduced from Munich to Verona, Bologna, and Venice through Innsbruck and Bolzano.

  Aftermath

  Railjet became the principal branded replacement for older EuroCity services on these selected international corridors.

  Source

• 2018

  ÖBB differentiates faster services as Railjet ExpressStrategy

  Background

  Railjet services between Vienna and Salzburg had different stopping patterns, which made a distinct designation useful for communicating journey-speed differences.

  Action taken

  ÖBB introduced the Railjet Express or RJX category for selected limited-stop services.

  Aftermath

  Passengers could distinguish the fastest services from regular Railjet trains with additional stops.

  Source

• 2014

  ÖBB exercises an option for nine additional Railjet trainsStrategy

  Background

  ÖBB sought additional capacity for the increasingly important Vienna–Salzburg Westbahn corridor and for future operations compatible with Italy.

  Action taken

  ÖBB took up an option with Siemens for nine further Railjet trainsets.

  Aftermath

  The additional trains were planned for Westbahn operation and helped extend the fleet available for domestic and international services.

  Source

• 2012

  ČD replaces its cancelled Railjet procurement with a reduced orderM&A

  Background

  České dráhy had been associated with a planned purchase of 16 Railjet trainsets, but that arrangement was cancelled in 2012.

  Action taken

  ČD and Siemens agreed a reduced order for seven Viaggio Comfort trainsets instead.

  Aftermath

  The revised procurement eventually supported ČD's own Railjet-branded international operation from 2014.

  Source

• 2006

  ÖBB chooses locomotive-hauled Railjet formationsProduct launch

  Background

  ÖBB was developing a premium high-speed service but did not choose an electric multiple-unit model. The railway already operated Siemens Taurus locomotives capable of cross-border high-speed work.

  Action taken

  ÖBB commissioned Siemens Mobility to develop and build seven-coach push-pull Railjet trainsets with driving trailers and dedicated passenger interiors.

  Aftermath

  The decision enabled Railjet to use existing locomotive assets and created a scalable service platform for domestic and international routes.

  Reported value of initial and supplementary trainset orders. €798 million (Orders covering 469 passenger carriages, 2006–2007)

  Source

1. 1Railjeten.wikipedia.org
2. 2ÖBB Railjet official service pageoebb.at