ÖBB Annual Report 2023

19 For a reliable future of the highlights of the past financial year in passenger transport, as it offers a number of innovations that make travelling by train overnight even more comfortable. The sleeping car with shower facilities and WC in your own compartment represents an extra level of comfort and privacy, as do the new mini-cabins for solo travellers. The new Nightjet enables barrier-free travel in modern couchette compartments and the carriage of bicycles. The new Nightjet has been technically upgraded with free Wi-Fi, additional charging facilities for electronic devices and mobile phone-permeable windows for more stable mobile phone reception. A total of 33 new Nightjets will be commissioned over the next few years. The first new-generation Railjets will also offer even more comfort from 2024 and are characterised above all by their accessibility. ÖBB also ordered 14 Railjet double-decker trains last year, which will significantly increase seating capacity on long-distance services from 2026. New city jets, also with rechargeable battery The first new Desiro ML Cityjets have been in operation in Vorarlberg since the end of 2022. By 2024, a further 25 of the modern four-car trainsets will also follow in Tyrol and Salzburg. 46 new electric multiple-unit trains will be on the rails by the end of 2024. The existing Cityjets are currently undergoing upgrades, which are scheduled for completion by 2029. Another new addition is the electric Cityjet battery-powered trains, which run on battery power on non-electrified sections of track. The first of these battery- powered multiple units are expected to be in operation on the Kamptal railway in Lower Austria from 2028. Savings of up to 1.7 million litres of diesel per year correspond to approx. 4,250 tonnes of CO 2 – the annual consumption of 600 Austrians. Besides state-of-the-art equipment and accessibility, the Cityjet battery-powered trains offer higher capacities and faster acceleration for shorter journey times. In addition, new Cityjet Desiro-ML electric multiple-unit trains have been ordered for interregional transport, which will be used on inner-Alpine connections from 2025. Once the long-distance trainsets for these routes have been delivered, the Cityjet Desiro- ML electric multiple units will be used for local transport in Kärnten and the eastern region. Door to door with Postbus Shuttle and wegfinder-app Shorter journey times, more frequent services and new routes are important measures for expanding public mobility services. Österreichische Postbus AG, Austria’s largest bus company, plays a key role here, providing a comprehensive, efficient and sustainable mobility service in more than 1,600 communities. The introduction of the Postbus Shuttle marks the provision of an on-demand service to cover the first and last mile. The Postbus Shuttle is now available in over 30 Austrian municipalities. < ation Nightjets went on the rails with the timetable change in December Digital customer information Dialogue with the customers Customer information is more important than ever due to increasing demand and in times of great challenges as a result of construction activities and bottlenecks in the supply of rolling stock. A central role is played by mobile applications such as the two “classics” – the ÖBB journey planner SCOTTY for route planning and the ÖBB app, which also offers the option of buying tickets. These apps however possess many more features. In future, Geotracking will en- able travellers who have registered for it to be kept up to date on the move in an even more up-to-date, needs-oriented and targeted manner. Strong digital ÖBB brands The ÖBB App and SCOTTY are the best-known public transport product brands in Austria after S-Bahn and Railjet . This is the result of a representative online survey conducted by marketmind in February 2024. FIND OUT MORE in the Manage m ent Rep ort on p ages MR13, MR18, MR24, MR28, MR32, MR40, MR108