ÖBB’s Stadler KISS Cityjet cleared for three countries
CROSS-BORDER: Stadler’s KISS double-deck EMUs — branded as Cityjet in ÖBB’s regional fleet — have received simultaneous type approval for Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia, clearing the way for cross-border services from June 2026.
The approval covers series 4734 and 4736, drawn from a 2022 framework contract with Stadler for up to 186 units. Current call-offs total 109 four- and six-car sets. The approval was issued on 21 April.
The three-country clearance is unusual for regional rolling stock and marks a direct application of ERA’s interoperability framework to commuter-grade fleet procurement.
How the three-country approval works in practice
Under ERA’s interoperability framework, a vehicle approved in one member state can receive authorisation for additional countries without full re-homologation in each. The 21 April decision applies that mechanism to all three markets simultaneously — meaning ÖBB’s new Cityjet sets can operate across borders from day one of commercial service.
That matters for ÖBB’s eastern network. Routes from Vienna into the Czech Republic and Slovakia are part of the operator’s established regional corridor, and the new double-deckers are intended to serve them from the outset.
Fleet entry and contract scope
The 109 units ordered so far represent the first call-offs under the 2022 framework, which allows ÖBB to draw down up to 186 sets across four- and six-car configurations.
Phased fleet integration begins in June 2026, replacing older double-deck push-pull stock on eastern Austria services.
The simultaneous three-country approval applies ERA’s vehicle authorisation model directly to regional commuter operations across three national networks.