Stadler and ÖBB Unveil New Railjet and FLIRT Akku

At InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin, Stadler and the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) jointly presented two new vehicle platforms designed to address evolving passenger demands and sustainability targets. To accommodate growing long-distance ridership, ÖBB debuted its first double-decker Railjet train, based on the Stadler KISS platform. Featuring 486 seats, the new long-distance fleet offers a 20 percent capacity increase over the current Railjet generation and will enter revenue service starting in the summer of 2027. The trains will feature dedicated family and quiet zones, enhanced digital passenger services, and comprehensive accessibility improvements.

For regional operations, the partners showcased the new battery-electric FLIRT Akku multiple-unit train. Intended to replace aging diesel fleets on partially electrified or non-electrified routes, the battery train will first enter service on the Kamptal Railway in Lower Austria beginning in 2028. The FLIRT Akku allows ÖBB to introduce zero-emission, climate-friendly mobility on secondary lines where continuous overhead electrification is either economically unviable or cannot be implemented in the short term. The displayed vehicles are part of a broader 2023 framework agreement covering up to 120 FLIRT Akku units.

Additional Context
This section provides technological and market background not explicitly detailed in the original release.

Across Europe, national railway operators face a dual challenge: expanding mainline capacity to meet record-high ridership while simultaneously eliminating diesel traction on rural branch lines to meet strict decarbonization targets. On the long-distance network, moving to a double-decker (bilevel) architecture like the Stadler KISS allows operators to significantly increase passenger density without lengthening the train beyond standard platform limits. Meanwhile, for regional networks, Battery Electric Multiple Units (BEMUs) like the FLIRT Akku represent a critical breakthrough. Instead of bearing the massive capital expenditure of erecting overhead catenary wires along hundreds of kilometers of low-traffic rural track, operators can use the BEMU’s onboard traction batteries. The train charges its batteries while running under existing electrified wire on mainlines and seamlessly switches to battery power for the non-electrified branch sections, effectively "de-dieseling" operations at a fraction of the infrastructure cost.

Edited by an industrial journalist, Lekshman Ramdas, with AI assistance.

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