City Airport Train (CAT)

City Airport Train (CAT) is the brand of a dedicated non-stop airport express rail service in Vienna, Austria, connecting Vienna International Airport (Schwechat) with Wien Mitte station in the city centre. The service is marketed as a fast, comfortable and reliable transfer option for air travellers, positioned between ordinary suburban rail (S-Bahn) services and taxis or private transfers. The CAT operates as a distinct commercial brand rather than as a general railway operator: it sells its own tickets, runs its own branded trains and terminal facilities, and targets business travellers and tourists who value speed and predictability over the lowest fare. Trains run non-stop between the airport and Wien Mitte, with a journey time of roughly sixteen minutes, and the brand is closely associated with the convenience of in-town check-in and luggage-friendly carriages. The service is operated in cooperation between the airport and the national rail group, reflecting a common European model in which airport express brands are jointly owned by infrastructure and aviation partners. Over time the CAT has faced competition from cheaper S-Bahn connections and from bus and taxi alternatives, and its marketing has emphasised comfort, punctuality and the city-centre location of its terminus. As a brand, CAT is a niche but well-known element of Vienna's transport landscape and of Austria's tourism and business-travel infrastructure. Its identity rests on a single, tightly defined product — a fast city-to-airport rail link — rather than on a broad portfolio of routes.

The City Airport Train was introduced in the early 2000s as part of efforts to give Vienna International Airport a dedicated, high-quality rail link to the city centre, complementing the existing S-Bahn suburban services. The brand was built around a non-stop service to Wien Mitte, chosen because of its proximity to the historic centre and its connections to metro and suburban lines. From the outset the CAT was conceived as a commercial brand rather than a public-service route: it charges a premium fare, runs dedicated rolling stock in its own livery, and markets itself on journey time, comfort and reliability. The service has been operated through a partnership structure involving the airport and the national railway, a model used by several European airport express brands. Over the following years the CAT consolidated its position as the premium option for air travellers, while cheaper S-Bahn trains and competing road-based transfers kept pressure on pricing. The brand responded by emphasising its city-centre terminus, short journey time and onboard amenities, and by integrating with airline and airport service offerings such as city check-in. In the 2010s and 2020s the CAT continued to operate as a specialised airport transfer brand within Vienna's transport system, adapting to changing passenger volumes, including the sharp downturn in air travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to evolving expectations around digital ticketing and traveller information.

• City Airport Train express service launched between Vienna International Airport and Wien Mitte.

Premium, fast and comfortable airport-to-city rail transfer for business and leisure air travellers, positioned above standard commuter rail.

• Non-stop airport express train service

  Direct rail link between Vienna International Airport and Wien Mitte with a journey time of roughly sixteen minutes.

• CAT tickets and transfer passes

  Branded tickets sold for the premium airport transfer service.

• 2026-08-24

  CAT switches to bus operation between Vienna Mitte and Vienna Airport[1]CAT在维也纳市中心与机场之间改由巴士运营vol.at

  Reported: 2026-08-23

  City Airport Train (CAT) is switching to bus operation earlier than originally planned, starting August 24, 2026, running premium buses between Vienna Mitte and Vienna Airport due to the advanced closure of the S-Bahn main line after a cable fire near Vienna Praterstern. Up to five buses per hour are planned between 7 AM and 7 PM at a 12-minute interval, with the route taking about 21 minutes.

• Unconfirmed

  CAT offers 20 percent online ticket discount for bus operation[1]CAT在维也纳市中心与机场之间改由巴士运营vol.at

  Reported: 2026-08-23

  At the start of the CAT bus operation, a 20 percent discount on tickets purchased online will be offered. Holders of a Vienna Lines annual pass, ÖBB Vorteilscard, or KlimaTicket can use the CAT at a reduced fare of 7 euros per direction, and children under 15 travel free.

1. 1CAT在维也纳市中心与机场之间改由巴士运营vol.at