"Krone" rode along

The Westbahn’s new China train is a surprise

The new trains currently only run between Salzburg and Vienna. However, this will change from next year.(Bild: Markus Tschepp)

Since mid-November, the new trains from the Middle Kingdom have been licensed and have been running in Europe. These trains are sleek, modern and were quickly available.The "Krone" took a closer look at the double-decker trains.

The fact that Europe is flooded with cheap goods from China is nothing new. The fact that Chinese trains are rolling over the tracks in Austria is. Since mid-November, Westbahn has been relying on a product from the Middle Kingdom.

The double-decker trainsets from CRRC (China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation), the largest manufacturer in the world, run between Salzburg and Vienna. From next year, they will also run as far as Budapest. Not for cost reasons, however, but because of availability. The Western Railway wanted to modernize quickly and China was able to deliver quickly. This led to an outcry in Europe.

The "Krone" took a closer look at the Chinese product. First of all: anyone expecting a cheap plastic train will be proven wrong - at least for the time being.

Sleek, but slightly lower
The first thing passengers notice is clearly the sleek shape of the railcar. "Doesn't look bad," says a waiting passenger as the train pulls into the station. On boarding, it is immediately noticeable that the carriages are slightly lower than before. However, there should be no problems if you are less than two meters tall.

In contrast to the older sets, the interior is darker and more modern. The materials used look solid and the train staff are also happy about the more storage space. The many cameras are also striking. No area in the corridors is not covered. This is intended to increase security. The images are deleted after 72 hours.

Some guests may find the harder seats uncomfortable. However, you are compensated for this with a power socket including a USB-C port at every seat. Modern displays with the connection options at the next stop have also been introduced.