Austria’s Österreichische Bundesbahnen or ÖBB will expand international rail services in its 2027 timetable, introducing a Vienna to Stuttgart in Baden-Württemberg overnight train, Frecciarossa high-speed services from Munich in Bavaria to Milan in Lombardy, and Rome in Latium, and planned direct trains to Belgrade in Serbia for the first time since 2019. The timetable takes effect on 13 December 2026, with tickets now on sale.
“With the 2027 timetable, we continue to offer our passengers a strong and reliable service. At the same time, new direct connections and modern trains will make rail travel in Austria and internationally even more comfortable and attractive,” said ÖBB chief executive Andreas Matthä.
More international connections
Following the completion of major engineering works between Passau and Nuremberg in Franconia, ICE services to Nuremberg, Frankfurt in Hesse, Dortmund in North Rhine-Westphalia, and Berlin will return with the timetable change. An additional pair of ICE services between Vienna and Dortmund will operate at the beginning and end of the day. From December, there will be a total of 10 ICE connections from Vienna to Nuremberg.
A new overnight ICE service will link Vienna and Stuttgart. From summer 2027, ÖBB will cooperate with Deutsche Bahn and Trenitalia to offer Frecciarossa high-speed services from Munich via Innsbruck to Milan and Rome in Italy.
Direct trains between Vienna and Belgrade are planned to return in 2027, with two trains per day in each direction and a journey time of around six hours and 30 minutes. The launch date remains subject to approval for the route in Hungary.
Two new direct EuroCity connections will link Vienna with Košice in eastern Slovakia via Bratislava, and Žilina. From summer 2027, Railjet Xpress (RJX) services will also be extended: train 765 will run from Bregenz in Vorarlberg via Vienna to Bratislava, while train 168 will connect Bratislava via Vienna with Zurich in Switzerland.
In Vorarlberg, new cross-border regional services will improve connections with Switzerland and Germany.
More trains within Austria
Domestic services will also be expanded. Additional Interregio trains will run between Graz and Villach via the Koralmbahn at the beginning and end of the day. Interregio services between Graz and Maribor will stop at Graz Airport.
From July 2027, three additional InterCity trains per day in each direction will operate between Graz and Linz. Together with existing Interregio services, this will bring the total to 11 direct trains per day in each direction.
On weekdays, a new early-morning service will leave Graz at 04:48 and arrive in Klagenfurt at 05:47, with onward connections towards Villach and Salzburg.
Regional services will also be improved around Vienna, including better connections to Vienna Airport and faster journeys between Vienna and Wolfsthal. Additional trains are planned between Vienna and Vienna New Town (Wiener Neustadt), Eisenstadt and Wulkaprodersdorf, as well as between Vienna Westbahnhof and Eichgraben-Altlengbach.
New trains and €6.1 billion fleet investment
ÖBB will continue modernising its fleet in 2027. A further 27 double-deck Cityjet trains will enter regional service, while six new Alstom Coradia Stream trains are planned for cross-border regional services between Tyrol and South Tyrol, eliminating the need to change trains at the Brenner Pass.
Long-distance services will receive 10 additional next-generation Railjets and 14 new double-deck Railjets.
ÖBB plans to invest around €6.1 billion in 330 new and modern trains by 2030. Its fleet grew by approximately 80 vehicles in 2026, with a further 57 expected to be added in 2027.
Engineering works will disrupt routes to Germany and Switzerland
From 8 February to 9 July 2027, construction on the German rail network will close the Deutsches Eck route between Freilassing and Rosenheim. At the same time, the Tauern railway will be completely closed between Schwarzach-St. Veit and Mallnitz-Obervellach for the second phase of major tunnel and track renovations.
ÖBB and Deutsche Bahn have developed diversion and replacement transport plans. Depending on their destination, passengers travelling towards Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Zurich will have either through trains with longer journey times or connections involving rail replacement buses.
Services to and from Germany via Passau will return to their regular schedules on 13 December 2026. Railjet Xpress services between Vienna and Munich will be diverted via Passau.
Passengers can check timetable changes and replacement services through ÖBB’s SCOTTY journey planner. Tickets are available through the ÖBB app, the ÖBB ticket shop, station ticket offices, ticket machines and authorised sales partners.
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