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Westbahn conquers Germany: Competition for Deutsche Bahn is growing!
Discover the new Westbahn connection between Munich and Stuttgart, which has been running since 2024, and its impact on travel.
Westbahn conquers Germany: Competition for Deutsche Bahn is growing!
Westbahn, the Austrian railway operator, is expanding in Germany and has opened a new route from Munich to Stuttgart since December 2024. Managing director Thomas Posch reports about 200,000 passengers traveling across borders between Austria and Germany and within Germany. It is interesting that two thirds of the passengers travel to Munich, while a third continue to Stuttgart. The Westbahn aims to establish itself as a serious competitor to Deutsche Bahn.
As of April 2025, the company has already made a profit, which is notable since it typically takes about three years to make a lasting investment valuation. Particularly noteworthy is the direct connection from Vienna to Stuttgart, which is offered twice a day and has a travel time of six and a half hours. This connection is described as unrivaled as many travelers want to avoid transfers. Posch also announced an expansion of the company's activities, which could further promote the growth of the Westbahn.
Challenges caused by infrastructure work
Despite the positive development course, there are also concerns about the planned renovation of the Passau-Nuremberg route by DB InfraGo, which is scheduled to begin in 2026. During this work, freight traffic will be redirected to the Munich-Salzburg connection, which could lead to possible delays of up to 20 minutes for the Western Railway. Posch was also critical of the regulations that state that long-distance trains must stop at a station for at least two minutes, as this can cost valuable time.
Further renovation of the Munich-Salzburg corridor is scheduled for 2027, which will result in additional restrictions for the Western Railway. Posch assumes that Westbahn will not be able to operate without restrictions again until 2028. The challenge is compounded by the delayed approval of four new trains ordered from manufacturer CRRC. However, these trains will initially only be used in Austria.
Customer experiences and ticket offers
The Westbahn also offers its passengers a number of advantages to make the journey more pleasant. This includes the WESTfixplatz offer, which allows free seat reservations for tickets booked online up to three hours before departure. Families benefit from special conditions: up to four children under 15 years of age can travel in standard class for just 3 euros per trip, while children under six years of age travel free of charge provided they are accompanied by a full-paying adult.
In addition, Westbahn offers flexible cancellation conditions for its tickets. Flexible tickets can be canceled free of charge up to one day before the start of the trip. Cancellation of WESTsuperpreis tickets is possible for a fee of 25% of the ticket price. Travelers can look forward to a modern fleet with comfortable leather seats, power sockets, free Wi-Fi and dining options such as WESTcafés.
With these measures, Westbahn is positioning itself as a serious player in the German transport landscape and at the same time creating incentives for a growing number of passengers who are looking for a direct and comfortable connection between Austria and Germany.