Last updated: 21 August 2026. This situation is changing week by week. Every figure below was checked against the operators' own pages on that date — the official links are at the end of the article.
Short answer: The CAT runs as a bus, not a train: 21 minutes to Wien Mitte, every 12 minutes. The Railjet still reaches Wien Hauptbahnhof in 15 minutes and is the fastest rail option. The S7 no longer serves the centre. With luggage, a direct car is the only option without a change.
What Happened
On 13 August 2026 a cable fire near Wien Praterstern damaged roughly twenty kilometres of cabling. Trains stopped running between Praterstern and Wien Hauptbahnhof, and the City Airport Train — which used that stretch — stopped with them.
The fire hit a line that was about to close anyway. A long-planned renovation of Vienna's S-Bahn Stammstrecke was due to begin in September. The fire simply brought the replacement service forward.
The timeline
- 13 August 2026 — cable fire at Praterstern. CAT trains stop.
- 24 August 2026 — “CAT by bus” begins, brought forward because of the fire.
- 7 September 2026 — the planned closure starts. The S7 stops serving the city centre.
- 31 October 2027 — the closure ends. The CAT returns to rail with new five-car trains.
That is fourteen months of bus service. If you are reading this while planning a trip in 2027, assume the bus still applies unless the operator says otherwise.
Every Option, Honestly Compared
Six ways out of the airport. Prices are per person unless stated otherwise — which matters more than it sounds once you are travelling as a family.
| Option | Price | Journey time | With luggage |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAT bus (Wien Mitte) | €14.90 · €7 reduced · under 15 free | 21 min | Fine, but you carry it onward |
| Railjet / ICE (Hauptbahnhof) | €5.50 · from €4.10 with a city ticket | 15 min | Good — but then the U-Bahn |
| S7 S-Bahn | €5.50 · children 6–14 €2.80 | 22 min, plus a change | Poor — stairs and a change |
| Vienna Airport Lines | €8–9 | 20–40 min by route | Good — hold underneath |
| Taxi from the rank | Metered — no fixed price | 30–50 min by traffic | Good — door to door |
| Pre-booked transfer (ATAV) | From €44 per vehicle, agreed in advance | 30–50 min by traffic | Good — door to door, no change |
One thing the fare tables hide: rail and bus prices are per person, a car is per vehicle. Four people on the CAT bus pay four fares; four people in one car pay one. Below roughly three passengers the train is cheaper, above it the car usually is.
Which One Suits You
Family with luggage
Avoid the rail options while the closure lasts. Every one of them ends in a change with suitcases, and the S7 now leaves you outside the centre. The CAT bus is one clean leg to Wien Mitte if that is where you are staying. Otherwise a car to the door is worth the difference, and children under 15 travelling free on the CAT does not offset four separate fares plus a taxi at the far end.
Business traveller, hand luggage only
The Railjet to Hauptbahnhof is the fastest thing on rails at 15 minutes, and it is not affected by the closure at all. If your meeting is near Wien Mitte, the CAT bus at 21 minutes is the simpler choice. Both beat sitting in a car during the evening peak on the A4.
Budget traveller, alone
The Railjet at €5.50 — or €4.10 combined with a city ticket — is both the cheapest and the fastest rail option right now. That is unusual, and it is worth knowing before you buy a CAT ticket out of habit.
Three Things That Catch People Out
- City Check-In is gone. Dropping your bags at Wien Mitte was the CAT's best feature. It is suspended for the whole closure — you carry your luggage to the airport.
- “From €7” is the reduced fare. The full CAT single is €14.90. The €7 applies with a KlimaTicket, a Wiener Linien annual pass, an ÖBB Vorteilscard or a student card.
- Wien Mitte is not the centre. Neither is Hauptbahnhof. Both leave you a U-Bahn ride from most hotels — add ten to fifteen minutes and, with luggage, a flight of stairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the City Airport Train running at all?
Not as a train. Since 24 August 2026 the CAT operates as a non-stop bus between Wien Mitte and the airport. The train returns in autumn 2027.
What is the fastest way from Vienna Airport to the city right now?
The Railjet to Wien Hauptbahnhof takes about 15 minutes and is unaffected by the closure. The CAT bus needs 21 minutes to Wien Mitte. Which is faster for you depends on where you are actually going.
Can I still use the S7 to Wien Mitte?
Only until 6 September 2026, and with disruptions caused by the August cable fire. From 7 September the S7 terminates at St. Marx, outside the centre, and you have to change to reach the city.
Is the CAT City Check-In still available?
No. Checking in your luggage at Wien Mitte is suspended for the whole closure period. Take your bags with you.
How long will this last?
The planned closure runs from 7 September 2026 to 31 October 2027 — fourteen months. After that the CAT returns to rail with new five-car trains.
What is the best option with two large suitcases and a child?
Anything that avoids a change of vehicle. The CAT bus is one leg but still leaves you at Wien Mitte with your luggage; a pre-booked car goes to the door. The rail options all involve at least one change while the closure lasts.
Official Sources
Check these before you travel — they are the operators' own pages and are updated before any travel blog is.
- City Airport Train — the closure and the bus timetable
- ÖBB — construction on the Stammstrecke
- wien.info — airport to the city centre