photo: Daniel Willinger / ÖBB/Railjet M in the climate and wind tunnel
ÖBB is putting its future Alpine fleet through one of the toughest railway test programmes in Europe. Inside Vienna’s giant climate wind tunnel, the new Railjet M is being blasted with ice rain, snow, extreme heat and hurricane-like winds to prove it can survive the brutal realities of rail travel in the Alps.
Austria’s New Railjet Faces the Alps Before Entering Service
At temperatures dropping to -25°C, under freezing rain and powerful wind gusts, the new Railjet M is currently undergoing extensive testing inside the world’s largest climate wind tunnel in Vienna. The tests recreate real weather conditions commonly faced across Alpine rail corridors. Engineers expose the train to temperatures ranging from -25°C to +45°C, while also simulating heavy snowfall, high humidity, strong solar radiation and icy rain.
After each testing cycle, specialists inspect critical components including doors, windows and onboard technical systems to determine how the train performs under extreme environmental stress. Toilets, water systems, thermal insulation, air quality and overall energy efficiency are also examined in detail.
ÖBB: Rail Is Central to Austria’s Mobility Transition
According to Austrian Mobility Minister Peter Hanke, the Railjet M represents part of Austria’s broader shift toward sustainable transport. "Rail is a key lever on our path towards the mobility transition," Hanke said. "That is why ÖBB is investing more than €6.1 billion in over 300 new trains by 2030. The Railjet M will provide greater capacity and comfort on inner-Alpine routes in the future."
ÖBB board member Klaus Garstenauer added that the trains are specifically designed for Austria’s demanding mountain routes. "With the Interregio lines, we have completely restructured long-distance transport within the Alps. The Railjet M is our vehicle of choice for this network," he explained. "The climate wind tunnel tests ensure the trains can withstand extreme Alpine weather while still offering modern long-distance comfort."
Read more
For more than two decades, Alstom has been part of Denmark’s railway sector. Now the company is making that presence impossible to miss. With a new…
Designed for Mountains, Curves and Extreme Conditions
The Railjet M has been developed specifically for inner-Alpine operations, where trains must cope with steep gradients, winding mountain lines and rapidly changing weather conditions. A total of 31 trainsets have been ordered from Siemens Mobility. The approximately 106-metre-long barrier-free trains will offer 257 seats and significantly higher passenger comfort.
Wider carriages and a redesigned interior aim to create a more spacious onboard atmosphere, while passengers will also benefit from improved climate control systems, upgraded seating in both first and second class, dedicated ski and snowboard storage, as well as bicycle spaces.
"Rolling Computers" for Austria’s Future Rail Network
Tanja Kienegger described the new trains as far more than conventional rolling stock. "With the Mireo trains, we are bringing the latest generation of rail vehicles to Austria," she said. "They are flexible all-rounders designed for both urban and Alpine environments, including cross-border operations."
She also noted the trains’ digital capabilities, calling them "rolling computers" thanks to advanced onboard diagnostics designed to improve reliability, maintenance efficiency and operational availability.
The Railjet M fleet is expected to enter service from 2028 and will gradually become a backbone of Austria’s inner-Alpine long-distance rail network.
Source: ÖBB