by Nina Vaclavikova
Interviews: Kurt Bauer, Director of Long-Distance Transport at ÖBB; Mayor Roberto Dipiazza
A new direct rail connection between Trieste and Vienna was inaugurated on Saturday, strengthening cross-border mobility between northeastern Italy and Austria and expanding long-distance rail options in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region.
The route connects the Adriatic port city to the Austrian capital in just over six hours, passing through Villach, Klagenfurt and Graz. The journey time has been reduced in part by the opening of the Koralm tunnel, a major piece of infrastructure on Austria’s southern rail network that shortens travel between Graz and Klagenfurt.
Speaking at the inauguration, Cristina Amirante, the regional councillor for infrastructure in Friuli Venezia Giulia, said the new line enhances the region’s existing rail services while bringing it closer to internationally significant tourist destinations. She also pointed to the line’s integration with Trieste Airport’s rail stop, which she said reinforces the airport’s strategic role along major European mobility corridors.
Regional officials noted that ongoing upgrades to Austria’s railway network are expected to have positive effects beyond national borders. Several lines operated by the Austrian state railway company, ÖBB, extend into Friuli Venezia Giulia, meaning improvements on the Austrian side can translate into more efficient services within the Italian region as well.
The new Trieste–Vienna service forms part of a broader pattern of strengthening rail links across the Alps. Existing connections between Venice and Vienna — running through Udine and Pordenone and crossing the border at Tarvisio — are also seen by regional authorities as key elements in improving international rail mobility and economic integration.
From Trieste, the train departs at 2:22 p.m. on weekdays and at 2:37 p.m. on weekends, arriving in Vienna at 9:07 p.m. daily. The service offers more than 440 seats across three travel classes — First, Business and Economy — and is equipped with free Wi-Fi, a multimedia portal, a restaurant car, quiet zones and family-designated areas.
The trains are accessible to passengers with reduced mobility and allow bicycles on board, features that align with broader European efforts to promote rail travel as an inclusive and sustainable alternative to short-haul flights and car journeys.
For Trieste, long positioned as a gateway between Italy and Central Europe, the new connection underscores the city’s historical role as a transport hub linking the Adriatic with the heart of the continent. For Vienna, the route adds another direct link to the Mediterranean basin, further integrating rail travel across regions that have long been connected by trade, culture and tourism.
The launch of the service comes amid renewed investment in European rail infrastructure, as governments and operators seek to improve cross-border connectivity and reduce travel times between major cities. While the full impact of the Trieste–Vienna line will emerge over time, regional authorities on both sides of the border describe it as a significant step toward a more closely connected European rail network.
