Vienna Airport Train Replaced by Buses Due to Cable Fire

The City Airport Train (CAT) connecting Vienna's city center to Vienna Airport is temporarily replacing its train service with buses due to a cable fire that has closed the rail line. This transition is happening two weeks earlier than initially scheduled.

Starting next week, buses will operate every 12 minutes during peak daytime hours, offering a 21-minute journey each way. During off-peak times, before 7 a.m. and after 7 p.m., buses will run every 15 minutes. Each bus has a capacity of 57 passengers. This move comes as a substitute for the existing rail replacement service, which, like the trains, only ran every half hour.

The switch to road transport was already anticipated due to ongoing work on Vienna's main S-Bahn line, which was set to keep CAT trains off the tracks until autumn 2027. The cable fire has effectively accelerated this disruption. Buses will depart from outside Terminal 3 at the airport and arrive in Vienna Mitte near the CAT terminal in Marxergasse. While luggage can still be transported, the service of checking in luggage at the Vienna Mitte station will be discontinued.

The CAT operator also announced the upcoming new trains. Starting in autumn 2027, Stadler "KISS" double-decker trains are slated to resume service. These new trains will feature ample luggage space, wide aisles, comfortable seating, and accessible low-floor boarding areas, along with Wi-Fi and air conditioning. The new trains will have approximately 300 seats.