The Austrian railway company Westbahn intends to extend its route network in Germany in December 2024. In the future, we will also set course for Stuttgart and make stopovers in Augsburg and Ulm from Munich.

Some time ago, the Westbahn initially extended its main route to Munich Central Station. Later, trips to Innsbruck main station began and since December 2023 there have also been trips to Bregenz. Within Austria they want to increase the Tyrol and Vorarlberg routes.

With the 2024 timetable change, which will take place in December 2024, two daily pairs of courses will initially run between Vienna-Westbahnhof and Stuttgart Central Station. This is an extension of the Munich route. From Salzburg main station, the Stuttgart trains will then make stopovers for boarding and alighting in Rosenheim, Munich East, Munich Central Station, Augsburg and Ulm.

It is planned that the new line between Ulm and Stuttgart main station will be used. Compared to the much longer existing route via the Filstal, this is significantly faster in terms of travel time. The competitor Deutsche Bahn AG relocated almost all long-distance trains to the new route some time ago, so that mainly regional trains and Euronight connections run over the time-consuming Geislinger Steige.

“We still have a lot to do on the western route. In addition to an additional daytime connection to Vorarlberg, we want to shorten the travel time to the Ländle by around an hour. At the same time, we want to take our next expansion steps and start new direct connections via Munich, Augsburg and Ulm to Stuttgart - initially twice a day from Vienna Westbahnhof to Stuttgart and back," says Westbahn managing director Florian Kazalek.

Two thirds more trains on the road

The last holiday weekend after Christmas on the Westbahn is all about return traffic on the western route towards Vienna Westbahnhof. To ensure the reliable return journey of passengers, all necessary precautions are being taken. “Our employees are working hard to ensure that our passengers get home safely and reliably on the last holiday weekend. Our travelers have already been able to see this for themselves with Westbahn’s smooth Christmas traffic,” said Westbahn Managing Director Thomas Posch.

Compared to the previous year, two thirds more Westbahn trains run from Tyrol to Vienna Westbahnhof. With the new direct connection to Vorarlberg, trains have also been running to Bregenz and back every day since December 10th. “The high demand in the first few weeks shows that our offer on the Western route has proven itself and that our passengers can rely on the reliability and high level of the Western Railway service. We want to maintain this claim at Westbahn and continue to grow this year,” emphasizes Westbahn managing director Florian Kazalek.