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Above: SiemensDesiro trainset at Bregenz station in 2023; Below: Map of the network in Austria (A), Germany (D), Liechtenstein (FL) and Switzerland (CH)
The S1 is the busiest of the Vorarlberg S-Bahn's lines. S-Bahn and REX 1 trains run on separate tracks of the Vorarlberg railway line in intervals of less than ten minutes. Since December 2011, between Bregenz and Bludenz there is a time interval of 30 minutes until 23:00. Towards north, the S1 crosses the border and terminates in Lindau (Germany). Some services only operate between Lochau-Hörbranz/Bregenz Hafen and Bludenz.[9]
Trains of S3 service use the St. Margrethen–Lauterach line and Vorarlberg railway and run every half an hour between Bregenz and [St. Margrethen]], with some hourly services in the mornings and evenings that run to/from Lochau-Hörbranz/Bregenz Hafen.[11] The line was expanded to an almost continuous half-hourly coverage until 2016. The most important metro node along the route is Lustenau. The former R and REX trains on the route became S-Bahn services but retained their old stopping pattern.
The S4 service is operated by the Montafonerbahn (mbs). It runs primarily on a half-hourly basis between Bludenz and Schruns and calls at all stations.[12]
The R5 service runs primarily on an hourly to two-hourly basis. Trains only call at larger stations and some only operate between Dornbirn and St. Margrethen. Previously, only three trains per day continued from Lustenau to St. Margrethen, but now all services continue to that destination.[13]
Since December 2021, some trains of the S7 service (Weinfelden–Romanshorn–Rorschach) of St. Gallen S-Bahn continue from Romanshorn to Lindau-Reutin (as RE7/REX 7[14]). The trains are operated by THURBO and only call at major stations between Rorschach and Lindau. Only every second service continues from Romanshorn to Weinfelden.[15]
In December 2005, the first Bombardier Talents were given S-Bahn branding. However, only VVV timetables designated these services as such. ÖBB ran them as a standard regional service, and only later the S1 and S3 lines took over.
Proposals were underway to upgrade the Feldkirch–Buchs railway, which was already operated by ÖBB, and designate it as part of the S-Bahn network as S2, under the project name "S-Bahn Liechtenstein" (de; formerly S-Bahn FL.A.CH). A Letter of Intent was signed between Austria and Liechtenstein in April 2020.
Since December 2020, mbs' services on the S4 line are also designated as S-Bahn.
Fleet modernization began in 2018 to the ÖBB Cityjet [de] standard. This includes a new paint scheme, new seat covers, and passenger information monitors.
Rolling Stock
ÖBB currently operates Siemens Desiro Cityjets across all its S-Bahn lines, as of 2023. Before, it used 1st-generation Bombardier Talent Class 4024s. ÖBB signed an agreement[16] to purchase up to 300 new Bombardier Talent 3 units for delivery from mid-2019. However, they didn't receive approval, prompting the refurbishment of the existing Talent 1 series. The Talent 3 are now used in Germany.