The first modernized railjet 1 on test
posted on 11th Nov 2025 11:01
This year, ÖBB began the process of modernizing the first generation of railjets, which has been in preparation for several years. The first to pass through the ÖBB Wien-Simmering works was set 047. In addition to replacing worn-out interior parts, modernizing it and making it as close as possible to the second generation railjet, the work also includes replacing the inter-car gangways (newly from Hübner instead of Ultimate), installing modern antennas for better mobile phone signal reception, replacing inter-car data cables (maximum data throughput 10 Gbit/s), and installing an automatic passenger counting system.
Due to such a major intervention in the vehicle structure, interference current measurements had to be performed on the first modernized railjet. The test runs were carried out by ÖBB from 26 to 30 October 2025 on the Gailtalbahn, which is the non-electrified Hermagor - Kötschach-Mauthen line. The railjet 047 was brought to Hermagor from Wien via the Koralmbahn on 26 October by Taurus 1116 239. The locomotives 2016 057 of ÖBB and 2143 062 of the regiobahn RB were used for the test runs. All work on the first modernized railjet is to be completed by the end of 2025, after which batch modernizations will begin next year.
Gailtalbahn
The Gailtalbahn, or Gail Valley Railway, is 31 km long. The ÖBB passenger train operations were suspended on it in 2016; freight trains occasionally run there. The line is now owned by Kärnten Land and is managed by the Verein Gailtalbahn, which was founded in the fall of 2016 and which, in addition to operating adventure and nostalgic trains or draisines, offers the line for various testing. For this purpose, the KAR-IN Innovationslabor was founded in 2023, which helps compensate for the lack of suitable locations in Austria for testing rolling stock and new technology in real operating conditions (which is now being addressed by Stadler, which is planning to build its own test circuit in the country).
The letters KAR in the company name come from Karnische Alpen or Carnic Alps, which is a mountain range located in Austria (the federal states of Tyrol and Kärnten) and Italy (the regions of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia). The mountain range with an area of 6,600 km2 is limited in the north by the Gail river, which separates the Carnic Alps from the Gailtal Alps.
The establishment of the “innovation laboratory” was supported by the state Research Promotion Society (FFG, Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft). In addition to the above-mentioned measurements of disturbance currents, on the Gailtalbahn can also be carried out noise measurements, tests of telematics solutions, satellite navigation, autonomous driving, alternative drives, as well as personnel training, etc. On the line with a maximum gradient of 17 ‰, there are 45 level crossings (of which 22 are public), eight stops and three stations. Loading ramps and parking areas for vehicles are available. The maximum permitted speed is 60 km/h and can be increased to 80 km/h if necessary.
The railjet 047 was the first vehicle tested here. Previously, there were only smaller research projects.
Regiobahn RB
The aforementioned regiobahn RB is based in Ernstbrunn, north of Wien, and offers adventure and nostalgic trains, including draisine rides, and also provides its older electric and diesel locomotives to interested parties for traction purposes. At InnoTrans 2018, the company signed an agreement with CRRC ZELC Europe to purchase a hybrid locomotive with an output of 1,800 kW for heavy shunting and mainline service on non-electrified lines, after which, after testing and approving the prototype, regiobahn RB planned to purchase up to seven such machines, which did not happen, however.
Furthermore, the regiobahn RB has been preparing a project called Leise Berge (“Quiet Mountains”) for over ten years, which is to create a range of fast and comfortable regional trains between Ernstbrunn and Wien and which also aims to shift freight transport from road to rail.
