Stadler Confirms 3 KISS Trains for Vienna Airport Link

VIENNA, Austria – Swiss rolling stock manufacturer Stadler has unveiled three customized five-car KISS double-decker electric trainsets scheduled to enter commercial service for the City Airport Train (CAT) in autumn 2027. The 200 km/h trainsets will replace legacy locomotive-hauled formations on the non-stop route connecting Wien Mitte station with Vienna Airport. Each 133-metre train will provide approximately 300 seats and dedicated luggage infrastructure for air travellers.

What Does This Contract Cover?

The contract covers the production, delivery, and commissioning of three bespoke five-car Stadler KISS double-decker electric multiple units configured specifically for dedicated airport express services. Built at Stadler’s St. Margrethen facility in Switzerland, each trainset measures approximately 133 metres in length and operates at top speeds of up to 200 km/h. The order replaces CAT’s legacy fleet of ÖBB Class 1016 electric locomotives hauling three Siemens Viaggio Twin passenger coaches, modernising the non-stop 16-minute shuttle service that operates every 30 minutes between central Vienna and the airport. On-board amenities include wider seating, low-floor step-free boarding areas, power sockets, USB outlets at every seat, and ambient lighting tailored for international travellers. Total procurement expenditure and long-term maintenance agreement values for the three trainsets were not publicly disclosed by the operator or manufacturer.

Key Contract Data

How Does This Compare to Similar Contracts?

The procurement of just three specialized trainsets represents an unusually low-volume micro-fleet order in an industry where regional European passenger operators typically order double-decker EMUs in batches exceeding 20 units. By contrast, broader passenger rail capital expenditure in Austria is targeted at massive trunk-line expansions, such as the full commercial passenger opening of the Graz–Klagenfurt Koralm Railway on December 14, 2025, which also enabled new direct high-speed links connecting Vienna to Trieste (Source: Austrian Federal Railways, 2025). The investment targets expanding international visitor numbers, with the European rail tourism market projected to expand from USD 338.5 billion in 2025 to USD 578.2 billion by 2035 (Source: Future Market Insights, 2025). Procuring custom micro-fleets carries higher per-seat engineering overheads during a phase of stringent capital discipline across the rail sector, where benchmark railroad cost of capital dropped to 9.79% in 2025 from 10.68% in 2024 (Source: Surface Transportation Board, 2025). Independent unit manufacturing costs for the CAT KISS trainsets were not available at time of publication.

Editor’s Analysis

Transitioning from push-pull Siemens Viaggio Twin sets to fixed-formation Stadler KISS EMUs eliminates locomotive turnaround delays and improves energy efficiency on the high-frequency shuttle line. Dedicated airport rail links face mounting competition from regional express rail integrations, yet CAT bets on premium interior configurations to capture high-yield leisure and business travellers within a European rail tourism market expanding toward USD 578.2 billion by 2035 (Source: Future Market Insights, 2025). This operational pivot guarantees that CAT retains its premium brand identity ahead of network capacity reallocations following the completion of Vienna’s main urban rail corridor upgrades in 2027.

FAQ

Q: What rolling stock currently operates on the City Airport Train service?
A: The service currently relies on ÖBB Class 1016 electric locomotives hauling three Siemens Viaggio Twin double-decker passenger coaches. These locomotive-hauled trainsets will remain in commercial service until the Stadler KISS EMUs take over in autumn 2027.

Q: What are the primary technical dimensions of the new Stadler KISS trains?
A: Each five-car double-decker trainset measures approximately 133 metres in length and is designed to operate at maximum speeds of 200 km/h. The interior configuration provides roughly 300 passenger seats alongside step-free access and dedicated luggage zones.

Q: Why is the commercial launch of the new CAT fleet scheduled for autumn 2027?
A: The deployment timeline aligns directly with the scheduled completion of major infrastructure renovation works and closures along Vienna’s central urban rail corridor. Once the corridor reopens in autumn 2027, the trains will maintain the existing 16-minute non-stop schedule every 30 minutes.