Stadler has signed an agreement with Austria‘s WESTbahn network to supply three SMILE high-speed trains.

The new trains will have eleven carriages and will be built at Stadler’s factory in Bussnang, Switzerland. They will be integrated into WESTbahn’s regular passenger service between Vienna, Graz, Klagenfurt and Villach.

Commissioning new trains normally takes four to five years, but the three SMILE trains will be introduced into service from March 2026 and will expand the existing KISS double-decker service.

The new SMILE high-speed trains will be suitable for cross-border rail routes with TSI authorisation for network access in Switzerland, Germany, Italy, and Austria.

With a maximum speed of 250 km/h, they will be Stadler’s first high-speed trains to operate in Austria and will contribute to expanding the WESTbahn network.

Among the features of the new trains are a light, airy, and open design, step-free access, a low floor, an accessible toilet in each carriage, and full air conditioning, including in the driver’s cab.

All classes will have comfortable adjustable seats, free WiFi, USB ports and plug sockets at every seat, and dedicated areas for bicycles.

In 2023, Stadler marked a step forward in developing emission-free trains with an order from Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) to supply up to 120 battery-powered trains to replace the current diesel fleet in Austria’s eastern region.

“We are delighted to have an innovative and forward-looking partner in WESTbahn, and together, be able to deploy state-of-the-art high-speed trains within a very short space of time. The SMILE trains feature the most innovative technologies, high energy efficiency and maximum passenger comfort.”

Christian Diewald, Managing Director of Stadler Austria