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VIENNA – Rail passengers in Vienna and eastern Austria will face a series of timetable changes when the new railway schedule takes effect on December 13, 2026. The update brings more frequent services to Vienna Airport, improved connections to Bratislava, a new early-morning train to Wiener Neustadt, and temporary adjustments to S-Bahn services due to ongoing construction works.
According to the Eastern Region Transport Association (VOR) and the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), the new timetable data is already available online for passengers planning journeys from mid-December onward.
REX7 Extended With Half-Hourly Service to Fischamend
One of the most significant changes affects rail services towards Vienna Airport and Fischamend. From the timetable change, the REX7 regional express will operate every 30 minutes throughout the day, every day, between Vienna and Fischamend.
While a half-hourly frequency already exists between Vienna and the airport, the denser service will now extend continuously to Fischamend. During peak travel periods, trains will continue to run every 30 minutes as far as Wolfsthal, while off-peak services will operate hourly.
The REX7 will also follow a revised route, running via Vienna Central Station (Wien Hauptbahnhof) and Vienna Meidling before continuing onto the Southern Railway line. On weekend nights, the service will additionally replace the S7 as the overnight S-Bahn connection.
S7 Services Restricted Due to Construction Works
Passengers using the S7 line will encounter changes linked to ongoing construction on Vienna’s central S-Bahn corridor.
Under the new timetable, the S7 will operate only on the section between Vienna St. Marx and Vienna Airport. During this period, the REX7 will assume additional responsibilities for airport transport services.
Authorities advise passengers who previously relied on the S7 through the city’s main S-Bahn route to review their regular journeys and transfer options before the timetable comes into effect.
Hourly Vienna–Bratislava Connection
International rail travel is also receiving a boost. The REX8 service between Vienna and Bratislava will run hourly from 5 a.m. until midnight.
The improvement is made possible through the addition of an extra train pair between Marchegg and Bratislava Main Station, creating a regular hourly link between the Austrian and Slovak capitals throughout the day.
A new evening departure has also been added. The train will leave Vienna Central Station at 9:14 p.m. and arrive in Bratislava at 10:10 p.m.. In the opposite direction, the service departs Bratislava at 9:50 p.m., reaching Vienna at 10:46 p.m.
Transport officials say the additional connections will benefit both commuters and leisure travellers.
New Early-Morning Train to Wiener Neustadt
Commuters with very early start times will gain a new travel option on the Southern Railway.
A weekday train will depart Vienna Central Station at 3:59 a.m., stopping at Vienna Meidling before arriving in Wiener Neustadt at 4:49 a.m.
Additional REX6 services are also planned between Vienna, Wulkaprodersdorf and Deutschkreutz.
More Services to Czech Republic and Lower Austria
Several other regions will benefit from expanded rail offerings.
On the Northern Railway, additional REX1 services will continue to the Czech city of Břeclav, helping to create an almost continuous half-hourly service during the afternoon.
The North-West Railway will gain a new late-evening connection from Vienna via Retz to Znojmo, while the existing early-morning service from Retz to Vienna will also operate on Sundays.
On the western route, CJX5 night trains will stop at Neulengbach Stadt on weekends. Scheduled stops are planned at 2:18 a.m. toward Amstetten and 1:19 a.m. toward Vienna West Station.
Replacement Buses on S80 Route
The S80 line will also be affected by construction work, specifically the upgrade of Vienna’s connecting railway line.
As a result, S80 services will begin and end at Vienna Meidling and continue via the Southern Railway route. A rail replacement bus service will operate between Vienna Meidling, Vienna Speising and Vienna Hütteldorf.
The replacement transport will also serve the site of the future Hietzinger Hauptstraße S-Bahn station.
Passengers travelling on the affected corridor are encouraged to allow additional time for transfers and to check their routes before departure.
Modern and Accessible Trains Expanded
Alongside timetable changes, VOR and ÖBB announced a broader deployment of modern rolling stock.
The new Cityjet double-decker trains are set to be used more extensively on the CJX9 line connecting Vienna, Baden, Wiener Neustadt and Payerbach-Reichenau. Further regional express routes are expected to receive the trains as well.
Meanwhile, the S50 and REX51 services between Vienna West Station, Eichgraben-Altlengbach and St. Pölten are now operated entirely with barrier-free trains.
On the Franz Josef Railway, the S40, REX4 and REX41 lines will also be served exclusively by low-floor, accessible vehicles.
The timetable update marks one of the largest service adjustments in eastern Austria for 2027, combining expanded regional and international connections with temporary changes necessitated by major infrastructure projects across Vienna’s rail network.
- source: vienna.at/picture: pixabay.com
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