WESTbahn KISS 3 EMUs Entered Service

On 6 September 2021, WESTbahn held a presentation of one of the KISS 3 EMUs, of which it has ordered a total of 15 from Stadler. Unit 4010 027 ran from Wien Westbahnhof to Tullnerfeld and retour, on board with Erhard Grossnigg, Erich Forster, Hans Peter Haselsteiner and Herbert Kasser.

The 200 km/h trains are designated 4010 018 - 032 and are equipped with on-board ETCS Level 2 Baseline 3. WESTbahn states that they are track-friendly as they have a maximum axle-load of approx. 18.5 t, which is about 3.5 t less than „other long-distance trains in Austria“, this being WESTbahn’s „inconspicuous“ reference to ÖBB's railjets with Tauruses, which have a 21.5 t axle-load (Class 1116) and a 22.5 t axle-load  (Class 1216). The KISS 3 is also the first rail vehicle in Austria to be approved by ERA, less than two years after the contract was signed on 29 October 2019.

To improve passenger comfort, the new Class 4010s have an increased pressure tightness, optimised toilets (higher toilet performance + disinfectant dispenser) and a modified air conditioning system (higher performance so that it can replace all the air in the train with fresh air within 6 minutes at maximum power). The seating capacity is 506, compared to 526 for the six-car KISS 1 units. For what reason the seating capacity is now smaller, the operator did not explain. 

In terms of passenger, the operator’s concept has been expanded from two classes to three classes, so that Comfort Class 2+ is offered between 2nd Class (new designation: Standard Class) and 1st Class (new designation: First Class). The new Relax check-in ensures an even more relaxed journey for all passengers: using their smartphone, passengers first scan the QR code on the seat, then the one on the ticket (alternatively, a suitable ticket stored in the customer account is suggested). This connects the two QR codes and the passengers are "checked in". This status is shown on the reservation display above the seat, so that the passenger is usually no longer checked by the crew.

From 26 October, WESTbahn will be extending its timetable by eight train pairs daily (now it offers up to 15 train pairs daily). From 12 December 2021, it will also introduce international services for the first time, offering up to six direct train pairs a day between Wien Westbahnhof and München Hbf. A stop at München Ost will ensure an easy transfer to the S-Bahn to München airport.

As of the start of the 2022 timetable, WESTbahn, in cooperation with the Land of Salzburg and Salzburger Verkehrsverbund (the Salzburg Transport Association), will additionally stop at Straßwalchen, Neumarkt am Wallersee and Seekirchen am Wallersee, with two services in the morning to Salzburg and three services in the afternoon from Salzburg.

As far as the new CRRC EMUs are concerned, the first of them is due to arrive in Europe in the autumn, but WESTbahn does not have any further details yet.