📋 Tender Overview
The 34th and final railcar of the new TW500 series recently entered service on the Baden Railway, completing the modernization of the vehicle fleet. Since the start of regular service in early 2023, Wiener Lokalbahnen, as the operator of the Badner Bahn, has put a total of 34 new trains into passenger service. The new trains have largely replaced the old, non-accessible TW100 series trains. The old trains had been in service for 40 years or more. Some of these vehicles are still in sporadically used service. Over 75 percent of all journeys are already made with the new trains. In total, the new trains have covered around seven million kilometers between the city centers of Vienna and Baden since the first train was put into operation. This equates to almost 175 orbits of the earth. "The Badner Bahn is a very important connection for commuters in the southern area of Vienna. The modernization of the vehicle fleet was an important step to further increase the attractiveness of the Badner Bahn and convince as many people as possible of the advantages of rail travel. A good half of the passengers use the Badner Bahn for their environmentally friendly commute and benefit from these new trains every day," explains Monika Unterholzner, Deputy General Director and Head of Mobility at Wiener Stadtwerke. "With such targeted investments, we are creating tangible added value for our fellow citizens: The Badner Bahn's modern vehicle fleet represents a comfortable and barrier-free mobility service that safely transports thousands of commuters, schoolchildren, and families to their destinations every day. The new, fully air-conditioned trains make the journey more pleasant and relaxing and are tailored to people's needs - a benefit for the everyday life and quality of life of many Lower Austrians," emphasizes Udo Landbauer, Lower Austria's Minister for Transport and Deputy Governor. "With the 34th TW500 in passenger service, the Vienna Local Railways are successfully concluding a significant chapter of their modernization. The new vehicle fleet sets new standards in comfort and sustainability," emphasizes the VOR management, Karin Zipperer and Alexander Schierhuber. "The TW500 has made a significant contribution to the modernization of the Badner Bahn. It transports tens of thousands of passengers to their destinations every day. More seats, barrier-free access, more space for wheelchairs, and air conditioning have significantly increased comfort for our passengers," says Thomas Gruber, Managing Director of the Vienna Local Railways. In the annual passenger survey conducted in 2024, around 900 people gave the new trains very positive ratings. The barrier-free design received a grade of 1.4, and the air conditioning of the trains received a grade of 1.5 according to the school grading system. In the last two years, the Badner Bahn recorded the two highest passenger numbers in its history. Corporate Communications Wiener Lokalbahnen GmbH Tel.: (01) 90444 - 53021 presse@wlb.at www.wlb.at
