Our cover photo this week shows a Regiojet train at Komarom in Hungary on June 14, 2023. Image ID 285068947 © Jozsef Soos. Dreamstime.com.
Spain
From December 14, several adjustments will be made to Alvia services linking Madrid with Pamplona/Iruña and Logroño. The weekday 19:39 departure from Madrid Puerta de Atocha to Pamplona/Iruña (Table 654) will move significantly earlier, now leaving at 17:32 from Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, the 14:47 Madrid–Pamplona/Iruña Alvia will shift to a later 17:32 departure, aligning weekend timings more closely with weekday schedules.
Two early-morning trains will be combined to streamline operations. The 07:24 Alvia from Logroño to Madrid and the 06:40 departure from Pamplona/Iruña will join at Tudela de Navarra, continuing together towards the capital. These changes aim to optimise connections and improve consistency across the route.
Germany
The launch of the new RE 19 “Rheingau-Loreley-Express”, originally scheduled for December 2025, has been postponed by one year. The delay is primarily due to Stadler’s late delivery of new trains to operator VIAS, compounded by extensive construction works on the Right Rhine line between July and December 2026.
“We deeply regret this postponement,” said Thorsten Müller, Director of SPNV-Nord, noting strong interest from commuters, municipalities and tourist regions. As a result, the current RB 10 service will continue for another year.
When introduced, the RE 19 will run every two hours between Koblenz and Frankfurt, providing faster travel times by bypassing Wiesbaden Hauptbahnhof and offering improved hourly connections when paired with the left-bank RE 2.
Austria
The upcoming timetable change on December 14 marks a major milestone for Westbahn passengers. For the first time, Westbahn trains to and from Wien Westbahnhof will run in a continuous 30-minute interval, offering more flexibility and simplicity for daily travellers. With 66 services per day—a 10% increase—Westbahn is delivering its most comprehensive timetable yet.
Westbahn CEO Thomas Posch highlights the significance: “Now travellers really don't have to think about when the next Westbahn leaves.” From 05:38 to 21:08, a train will depart Wien Westbahnhof every half hour, while arrivals from the west will reach the capital every 30 minutes between 07:22 and 22:52.
A major enhancement comes with the introduction of three daily direct trains between Wien and Saalfelden, extending existing services beyond St. Johann im Pongau. CEO Marco Ramsbacher notes that Pinzgau will now be directly linked to Wien—ideal for locals, tourists, and winter sports travellers. Journey times to Zell am See and Saalfelden will be 4h17 and 4h28 respectively, with fares from €13.99.
From Wien Westbahnhof, the new direct services will depart daily at 07:38, 11:38 and 17:38, arriving in Saalfelden at 12:06, 16:06 and 22:06. Return journeys from Saalfelden will leave at 05:52, 12:52 and 16:52, reaching Wien at 10:22, 17:22 and 21:22. Along the route, trains will stop in Schwarzach-St. Veit, Lend, Taxenbach-Rauris, Bruck-Fusch, Zell am See and Maishofen-Saalbach.
Looking ahead, Westbahn continues its expansion: from March 2026, the operator will launch services on the southern line, running five times daily from Wien via Graz and Klagenfurt to Villach.
Poland
RegioJet has strengthened its growing presence in Poland with the introduction of a second direct service between Kraków and Warszawa, which began operating last Monday.
The new early-morning non-stop service departs Kraków Główny at 05:14, arriving at Warszawa Gdańska at 07:59. It enables passengers to reach the capital before the working day begins—ideal for business travellers, students and those with official appointments. In the opposite direction, the train leaves Warszawa Gdańska at 12:02, calls at Zawiercie, and arrives in Kraków at 15:17.
To celebrate the launch, RegioJet is offering promotional tickets from just 9 PLN on the Kraków–Warszawa route until December 13, allowing travellers to sample the operator’s high standard of service at a very attractive price. The new service complements RegioJet’s existing mid-morning train and forms part of a broader expansion ahead of full commercial operations beginning on April 1, 2026, including planned routes to Poznań, Gdynia, Ostrava, Praha and Wien.
