China-built trains are coming — because Europe can’t keep up
Austria’s Westbahn will deploy four Chinese-built trains within weeks — not as a geopolitical statement, but because Europe’s established manufacturers can’t deliver fast enough.
That, at least, is Westbahn’s explanation. The private operator describes Europe’s rail market as an oligopoly — too few suppliers, too little competition, and rising costs that ultimately hit operators and passengers alike.
Westbahn has announced that its CRRC double-deck units are nearing approval, with passenger service expected “in the coming weeks.” Each train seats 536 passengers; together they expand Westbahn’s capacity by roughly 28% to some 10,000 seats and enable half-hourly service on the Wien Westbahnhof corridor — 66 daily connections in all.
Chinese trains in Europe’s rail network
The deal traces back to 2019, when Westbahn explored CRRC alongside Stadler options. First test runs at Velim (Czech Republic) took place in mid-2022; Austrian and Hungarian trials followed this year. With certification nearing completion, the units will become among the first Chinese-built passenger trains to operate regularly in Western Europe’s mainline network — and the first in Austria.
Westbahn’s rationale was blunt:
“No functioning competition in the European rail industry. The European market is an oligopoly. Prices are exploding.”
— Westbahn statement
Across Europe, new train deliveries are frequently delayed by several months — sometimes longer — due to supply chain pressures, certification procedures and full production schedules. Operators in multiple countries, including Denmark, France and Germany, have faced postponed rollouts of new fleets. Westbahn’s critique therefore taps into a broader frustration among European operators that order books are full, delivery slots scarce, and prices rising.
Austria’s rail industry association (VBI) responded sharply to the planned deployment:
“More imports from non-EU countries endanger value creation, know-how and jobs. Public funds should strengthen European value creation, not flow into Chinese industry.”
— Anil W. Rai, Managing Director, VBI
Online reactions among industry professionals split between pragmatic acceptance of delivery delays and strategic concern about opening the door to non-EU suppliers — one LinkedIn commentator called it a “Dammbruch” (breach of the dam).
EU rules allow the entry
EU procurement rules mandate competition and non-discrimination, meaning CRRC and other non-EU builders can bid wherever they meet technical and legal standards.
Big picture: Westbahn’s move now poses a direct question to European manufacturers: can you clear your backlogs before Chinese suppliers translate delivery reliability into lasting market share?
What’s next: For operators watching from the sidelines, the answer may determine whether Westbahn’s CRRC order remains a one-off — or becomes the template when the next delivery delay hits.