ÖBB has presented on November 20 the first upgraded Railjet as part of company’s programme to modernise the entire Railjet fleet consisting of 60 units which are currently in service.
With more than 15 years in operation and roughly halfway through their planned service life, the ÖBB Railjets will be brought to a new standard in terms of technology and comfort. By 2031, all existing sets are to be modernised and aligned with the quality level of the next-generation Railjets.
“The modernised Railjets will significantly enhance comfort and the passenger experience on long-distance services,” said Peter Hanke, Federal Minister for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure.
The minister added that by 2030 “EUR 19.7 billion will be invested in expanding and modernising Austria’s rail network – a clear commitment to quality, reliability and sustainability. In addition, ÖBB is investing around EUR 6.1 billion in its fleet.
The first upgraded Railjet will make its debut on December 12, with the Koralm Tunnel opening passing through the tunnel under the name “Koralmjet” and will enhance comfort on the Vienna–Lienz direct service when the timetable change on 14 December 2025.
“With the Railjet upgrade, we are substantially improving the comfort and quality standards on our trains to offer passengers the highest level of rail travel comfort. Modernising and refurbishing existing trainsets provides a sensible and sustainable alternative to procuring new vehicles. With the first refurbished set completed, we will already be able to celebrate the opening of the Koralm Tunnel on 12 December,” underlined ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä.
As part of the upgrade, the old seats in First and Second Class will be replaced with new ones, while the Business Class seats will be renewed. The modernisation also includes new footrests, grab handles and larger folding tables. The interior design has been adapted to the look and feel of the next-generation Railjet and features a contemporary wood finish and continuous seat backrests for greater privacy. The coaches will also be fitted with new flooring, an improved passenger information system and optimised spaces for prams.
The modernised trains will subsequently be used on Railjet routes in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Italy.
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