Silverstar Railways to challenge Austria's train market with scenic Vienna-Salzkammergut route
A new rail operator is set to shake up Austria’s passenger train market. Silverstar Railways, founded in 2024 by a former ÖBB engineer, will launch direct services from Vienna to the Salzkammergut region in 2027. The company aims to provide faster, more convenient travel to popular tourist spots. Patrick Kröll, once an ÖBB locomotive engineer, established Silverstar Railways last year. The company now employs ten people, including several freight train drivers with years of experience. To prepare for passenger services, it has leased two Siemens locomotives.
The first route will connect Vienna to Bad Aussee, running twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Stops along the way include St. Pölten, Linz, Gmunden, Bad Ischl, and Hallstatt—key destinations for tourists. Operations are scheduled to begin in May 2027. Before then, Silverstar Railways must secure a safety certificate from the European Union Agency for Railways. The deadline for approval is September 2026. Beyond this route, the company is also exploring future connections to Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia.
Silverstar Railways will enter a competitive market, going up against national carrier ÖBB and private operator Westbahn. If approved, its services could offer travellers a new way to reach Austria’s scenic Salzkammergut region. The company’s expansion plans may further reshape rail travel in Central Europe.
