Westbahn confirms December train service cutback

AUSTRIA’s open-access inter-city operator Westbahn has confirmed that it will withdraw its hourly Vienna Praterstern - Salzburg service on December 14, cutting the frequency between the two cities in half.

Westbahn is selling its fleet of Stadler double-deck EMUs to DB.

The withdrawal of the service with the start of the new timetable on December 15 will leave just the hourly Vienna West - Salzburg service remaining. However, Westbahn will operate additional peak-hour services to Vienna West to maintain a 30-minute interval in the morning between Salzburg and Vienna and in the evening in the reverse direction. Westbahn will also operate some additional Vienna West - Linz shuttles on the busiest days of the week.

The reduction in frequency follows Westbahn’s decision to sell its fleet of seven Kiss and 10 Kiss2 double-deck EMUs to German Rail (DB) in two batches. Nine four-car trains will be handed over to DB in December, which will use them to introduce a new InterCity service between Berlin and Rostock. The remaining trains will transfer to DB in 2021 when Westbahn expects to receive 15 new six-car Kiss3 trains from Stadler.

Westbahn says it plans to restore a 30-minute interval service between Vienna, Linz and Salzburg by December 12 2021 at the latest.

Westbahn decided to sell its existing fleet of double-deck trains to reduce its operating costs as the new trains will be financed on more favourable terms.