Have you ever had to rush back from an evening stroll through Vienna to catch the last train to Bratislava? Starting December 13, 2026, these trips will be much more relaxed. Austrian Railways (ÖBB) is launching a new schedule under which trains to Vienna will run regularly until late at night, and new international routes will also be introduced.
What will change for passengers from Bratislava?
Passengers on the REX8 line, which connects Bratislava and Vienna, will notice the biggest changes. Under the new schedule, trains will run at regular hourly intervals from 5:00 a.m. to midnight. This will eliminate inconvenient “gaps” in the schedule and allow passengers to take their time on the evening return trip.
Key changes on the Bratislava–Vienna route:
Regular service: Trains will run hourly throughout the day.
Additional evening services: a new pair of trains will be added on the Marchegg–Bratislava hlavná stanica section. The train will depart from Vienna at 9:14 p.m. (arriving in Bratislava at 10:10 p.m.) and from Bratislava at 9:50 p.m. (arriving in Vienna at 10:46 p.m.).
Thanks to these changes, Vienna is becoming more accessible not only for work or leisure but also as a major transportation hub for onward travel to other European countries.
The Austrian operator is preparing several more important changes for passengers from Slovakia:
A direct train to Switzerland. Starting in the summer of 2027, the Railjet Express lines are scheduled to be extended, connecting Bratislava directly to Zurich without the need to transfer in Vienna.
Nightjet night trains. Vienna is strengthening its status as Europe’s leading hub for night trains (to Amsterdam, Brussels, Berlin, Rome, and Venice), offering a convenient alternative to air travel.
New EuroCity service: from Vienna to Košice without transfers
The biggest news for the Ukrainian diaspora and Slovak passengers is the introduction of direct EuroCity (EC) trains on the Vienna — Bratislava — Trnava — Trenčín — Žilina — Ružomberok — Poprad — Košice.
The new trains will allow passengers to travel seamlessly from the airport or downtown Vienna to the eastern regions of Slovakia:
From Vienna (Wien Hauptbahnhof): departures at 1:42 p.m. and 5:42 p.m., arriving in Košice at 7:53 p.m. and 11:53 p.m., respectively.
From Košice: departures at 4:07 a.m. and 8:07 a.m., arriving in Vienna at 10:18 a.m. and 2:18 p.m.
Travel time: 6 hours 11 minutes.
The route passes through the key railway hub in Žilina, which significantly simplifies transfers to other regional and international destinations.
Modernization and Scheduled Service Restrictions
Along with expanding its route network, ÖBB continues to modernize its trains. In 2027, the company plans to launch 57 new trains, including double-decker Cityjets, 14 double-decker Railjets, and 10 next-generation Railjets. According to an official ÖBB announcement, approximately 6.1 billion euros will be invested in modernization by 2030.
At the same time, passengers should prepare for temporary inconveniences. Large-scale construction work is planned for 2027, which will affect train service:
From February 8 to July 9, 2027, the German section between Freilassing and Rosenheim (the so-called German Corner) will be closed.
At the same time, reconstruction of the Tauern Railway between Schwarzach and Mallnitz will be underway.
Due to this work, there may be route changes, longer travel times, or the need to transfer to temporary buses. This particularly applies to those traveling toward Tyrol, Vorarlberg, or Zurich.
Where can you check the new schedule?
Although the new schedule takes effect on December 13, 2026, tickets are already on sale. You can check current departures, plan your trip, and purchase tickets right now through the official ÖBB and ZSSK booking systems.
