Westbahn is set to launch its long-anticipated southern route on March 1, bringing open-access competition to one of Austria’s most important new rail corridors. The private operator will run high-speed services between Wien, Graz, Klagenfurt and Villach, using brand-new Stadler SMILE trainsets capable of speeds up to 250 km/h on the Koralmbahn, including the new Koralm Tunnel.
The SMILE units, also known to passengers as the Giruno in Switzerland, represent the fastest trains currently planned for the route. With a capacity of 422 seats, they combine high performance with Westbahn’s established onboard offer, including power sockets at every seat, Relax Check-in and, notably, free seat reservations as standard. For the first time, Westbahn will also offer first class, while holders of the Austrian KlimaTicket can use the trains without restriction.
Services will be introduced in two phases. From March 1, Westbahn will operate three daily return trips, expanding to five in each direction from March 16 once all three trainsets are in service. Journey times are highly competitive: Wien to Villach is scheduled in 3 hours 30 minutes, while Graz to Klagenfurt will take as little as 44 minutes, undercutting ÖBB’s planned timings on most services.
Ticket sales are already open, with promotional fares starting at €18.99 between Wien and Kärnten destinations, and from €8.99 between Wien and Graz. By combining high speeds, straightforward pricing and a strong focus on comfort, Westbahn is positioning its new southern services as a serious alternative on Austria’s newest main line.
