The divestment is being handled by the parent company Wiener Lokalbahnen, which is fully owned by the City of Vienna.
Wiener Stadtwerke has initiated an open bidding process for the full acquisition of its rail freight subsidiary Wiener Lokalbahnen Cargo (WLC).
The process is structured as an unconditional and transparent sale of 100% of WLC’s shares. Bids are open to potential buyers based within the European Economic Area, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom. According to the seller, the aim is to identify a buyer with sufficient commercial standing to independently expand WLC’s freight operations.
The City of Vienna and Wiener Stadtwerke have stated that international rail freight logistics fall outside the scope of their core public service responsibilities. This positioning, combined with current conditions in the freight market, forms the rationale behind the disposal.
The sale is expected to be finalised by the end of 2025. No financial guidance or valuation parameters have been publicly disclosed.
Wiener Lokalbahnen Cargo is one of the Austrian-based freight operators active in international and cross-border transport, primarily offering traction services and block train operations in central and southern Europe. It has operated independently within the structure of the municipal utilities group, with commercial activities distinct from the passenger operations of Wiener Lokalbahnen.
While WLC has historically focused on bulk and intermodal freight, its network and traction pool have positioned it as a mid-sized provider with experience in corridor-based operations across multiple countries.