Passengers traffic grew last year for Austrian rail ÖBB

Passenger growth hits new highs

ÖBB carried more passengers than ever before, surpassing the previous record set in 2024. Total volumes rose by 1.4% year-on-year, reaching 559 million passengers. “It was a new record, largely driven by long-distance services. We saw for this segment a growth of 1.5% to 47 million passengers,” added Matthä.

On regional and local transport, passenger numbers dipped slightly by 2.6% to 246 million, impacted by fewer working days and temporary service disruptions, particularly on Vienna’s regional trains’ network. Congestion remains a critical issue, especially on Vienna trunk lines.

International expansion also played a role, with the operator’s German subsidiary contributing to overall growth, highlighting the importance of cross-border operations in a competitive European rail market.

In the meantime, punctuality rose to 94.1%, placing Austria back among Europe’s top-performing rail systems. However, management made clear that this is not enough.

To address bottlenecks, ÖBB is investing in both infrastructure and digital upgrades, including the rollout of the European Train Control System (ETCS), enabling more frequent and efficient train operations.

Heavy investment continues

Group profit before tax came in at €68 million, down 40% compared to 2024. The decline reflects a challenging operating environment, including high energy costs and intensified competition, particularly in freight. Passenger transport remained the strongest performer, posting an operating result of €228 million.

ÖBB invested €5 billion in 2025, with the bulk allocated to infrastructure projects. Major developments include the completion of Southern Austria Koralmbahn, ongoing work on the Semmering Base Tunnel, set to open in 2030, and progress on the Brenner Base Tunnel, linking Austria to Italy. The Tunnel opening is now fixed in 2032, four years behind the original schedule.

Beyond megaprojects, the company is also upgrading existing lines, renovating rail stations, expanding electrification, and accelerating digitalization. New systems are replacing paper-based processes, improving efficiency and reducing costs.

Energy independence is another priority. In 2025 alone, ÖBB commissioned 25 new photovoltaic plants and plans to expand into energy storage in 2026.

To keep pace with rising passenger numbers, ÖBB is rolling out 84 new trains in 2026, including double-deck Cityjet units and next-generation Railjets. These will increase capacity, particularly on busy commuter routes in eastern Austria.

The introduction of ETCS-compatible trains will also allow for denser service patterns and improved reliability.