Free WiFi was simply not available on Austrian trains until the market launch of the Westbahn. The private railway company has now been on the rails for ten years. The competition with the ÖBB meant that the top dog also upgraded.

Free internet is now even offered in the new rapid transit trains. The fact that most Railjet trains have separate toilets is due to the competitor Westbahn. This triumphed around ten years ago. The then ÖBB General Director Christian Kern initially jokingly said that the duel "will definitely not be decided in the house". Nevertheless, he quickly arranged for WiFi and separate quiet places to be included on the trains.

According to its own information, the Westbahn has covered around 11 million kilometers since it started operating on December 2011, 40. It has carried around 45 million passengers. After the end of the Austrian lockdown, the plan is to gradually increase the frequencies again.

“We competed as David against the Goliath State Railroad - with the support of the shareholders around Dr. Haselsteiner ”, says Erich Forster, CEO of the Westbahn. “From day one, it was our aim to develop into the benchmark for quality leadership at Deutsche Bahn. We are very proud that we have achieved this: The Westbahn has set new standards in vehicle quality and equipment, from leather seats to organic toilets, and it is no longer possible to imagine the Austrian rail landscape without it. We score with travelers with the quality of our service, cleanliness and punctuality. For many European railways, we have become the benchmark with our functional approach to modular night maintenance and technological innovations. The Westbahn team has done an exceptionally good job in all areas over the past decade. I would therefore like to thank all employees for their passion and enthusiasm in the service of all those who travel with us every day. "

The private railway company actually wanted the Extend the main route to Munich. Because the Stadler Kiss III sets have not yet been approved in Germany, the project has to be postponed. As reported: The aim is now April 2022.