Austria unveils a transportation revolution in Europe. Shutterstock After a seven-year hiatus, one of Central Europe's most intriguing international train journeys is returning: Austria's national railway company, ÖBB, has announced plans to resume the direct connection to Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, in 2027.
The move is part of the company's new timetable for 2027, which will take effect on December 13, 2026, and will include a series of new connections and improvements to the rail network in Austria and abroad.
At the center of the plan is the possibility of traveling by direct train between Austria and Serbia again, along with expanded service to Slovakia, faster connections to Italy, and dozens of new trains entering service.
One of the most notable innovations in the new timetable is a planned resumption of direct train service to Belgrade, for the first time since 2019.
According to the plan, two trains will operate per day in each direction, with a planned travel time of approximately six and a half hours. The new service is expected to allow direct travel between Austria and the Serbian capital, without changing trains along the way.
However, ÖBB emphasizes that the start date has not yet been finalized and depends on receiving the required approval for the route in Hungary.
The expansion of connectivity does not end in Belgrade. The new schedule includes two direct EuroCity trains from Vienna, via Bratislava and Žilina, to the city of Košice in eastern Slovakia.
At the same time, starting in the summer of 2027, the service of the RJX 765 train is planned to be extended from Bregenz via Vienna to Bratislava.
In the opposite direction, train RJX 168 will continue from Bratislava via Vienna to Zurich, Switzerland.
The changes are expected to expand travel options between Austria, Slovakia and Switzerland, and offer additional direct connections without the need to change trains.
Another significant part of the plan concerns high-speed train connections to Italy. Starting in summer 2027, ÖBB plans to expand service to the country in collaboration with German railway company Deutsche Bahn and Italian Trenitalia.
As part of the collaboration, Frecciarossa high-speed trains will operate from Munich via Innsbruck to Milan and Rome. The planned connection is expected to add options for international rail travel between Germany, Austria and Italy, and strengthen the rail alternative to flights and long-distance road trips.
Alongside the new connections, ÖBB continues to expand its train fleet.
During 2027, 57 new trains are expected to join the service, including:
-27 double-decker Cityjet trains for local and regional services.
-Six Coradia Stream trains for regional connections between Tyrol in Austria and South Tyrol in Italy, without the need to change trains at the Brenner Pass.
-Ten new-generation Railjet trains for long-distance services.
-14 additional double-decker Railjet trains.
The investment is part of a broader plan worth approximately €6.1 billion, under which the company intends to introduce 330 new and modern trains into its fleet by 2030.
The new schedule includes additional innovations for passengers in Austria and neighboring countries.
After the upgrade work on the line between Passau and Nuremberg is completed, ICE trains will resume connections to Nuremberg, Frankfurt, Dortmund and Berlin.
Ten ICE services are expected to operate from Vienna to Nuremberg, alongside a new long-distance night train from Vienna to Stuttgart. In addition, Vienna Airport is expected to benefit from improved rail connectivity to eastern Austria, and passengers on the Wolfsthal to Vienna line are expected to benefit from faster services.
Ticket sales have opened - but not all lines have been finally confirmed
Ticket sales for the 2027 schedule have already opened.
Reservations and information about the lines are available via the ÖBB website, the company app, ticket offices and its network of partners.
However, the company emphasizes that the schedule planning is not yet final, and that some connections may change or be canceled before it goes into effect.