SPECIAL EXHIBIT ÖBB

The age of the railway began 200 years ago. The ‘big bang’ took place on 27 September 1825 in England with the journey from Stockton to Darlington. The triumph of this new means of transport was now unstoppable. In Austria, it all began in 1837 with the opening of the first line from Floridsdorf to Deutsch-Wagram. 

It was not only a technical revolution that transformed the economy and society. The rapid expansion of the rail network also changed the perception of time and the direct connection to space. It became easier and cheaper to travel from A to B and to transport goods. The railway also broke down social barriers, as travel was no longer a luxury reserved for the privileged few.

But the railway is also the people who shape it: the train drivers, the dispatchers, the passengers and many more. It is above all emotions that bring this mode of transport to life. 

In this photo exhibition, we wanted to portray the railway through the ages: historical events, everyday life and constant change. We bring the people who operate and travel on the railway into the spotlight. We look back and look to the future – and it is bright. Never before has so much been invested in the railway in Austria as today. And it is paying off: almost every year sees a new passenger record. Austrians are the number one rail travellers in the EU. The next quantum leap will follow with the Semmering Base Tunnel and Koralm Railway, two projects of the century that will make the southern route even more attractive.

In view of dramatic climate change, rail is the transport mode of the future. 

Enjoy the pictures in this exhibition and discover that railways are more than just a means of transport. They evoke feelings of wonder, anger, joy, happiness, memories and anticipation. Railways simply move people. And that doesn’t just mean passengers and goods.