ÖBB masters the Hahnenkamm Weekend with ease

Robust rail link for momentous occasions: ÖBB masters the Hahnenkamm Weekend with ease. Smooth journeys for 52,000 visitors to Kitzbühel’s ski extravaganza. 

The 2026 Hahnenkamm Races were not only a sporting highlight, but also a major success in terms of mobility. As the long-standing partner of the Hahnenkamm race organisers, ÖBB (Austrian Rail) once again ensured safe, comfortable and sustainable travel to and from the event. From Friday to Sunday, around 52,000 ski fans took advantage of this year’s free rail services.

With over 400 trains stopping at Kitzbühel Hahnenkamm station and a tightly coordinated timetable, the mobility concept once again proved its worth, even during peak visitor periods.

ÖBB responded flexibly to the heavy demand before and after the races. Additional trains were deployed at short notice for Saturday’s Downhill race, and during peak periods, services ran at intervals of just 7.5 minutes. In total, around 84,000 extra seats were made available.

Hahnenkamm Express transported tens of thousands of fans free of charge between Kirchberg and St. Johann in Tirol, taking them almost directly to the finish area – with a punctuality rate of around 97 per cent. Free large car parks along the route made transfer to the train easy and thus encouraged car-free travel. ‘When tens of thousands of fans are on the move at the same time, the railways have to function – and that's exactly what they did again this year,’ says ÖBB project manager Markus Moser with satisfaction.

In operation now for 30 years, the ÖBB-Hahnenkamm shuttle service has once again proved its efficiency. What began in 1997 with a single special train has now become a tried-and-tested success story for sustainable mobility at major events.

Photo © ÖBB