Klaus-Jürgen Andrä has provided us with a special photograph. After freight traffic on the Elbe Valley Railway increased significantly in the early 1970s, the existing transfer stations were expanded and the line was electrified.
Construction work on the electrification between Schöna and Dresden Central Station took place between 1970 and 1976. For the first time in the GDR, some of the poles were flown in by an Interflug helicopter. This was because the heavy traffic on the line allowed for hardly any extended closures, and rail operations could thus continue uninterrupted. Electric rail service was inaugurated on May 29, 1976, with a special train from Dresden to Bad Schandau.
The undated photo shows the international train “Vindobona,” which ran between Berlin, Prague, and Vienna, near Dresden-Strehlen during the electrification of the line.
On January 13, 1957, the express train made its maiden voyage. For decades, it served as a flagship service connecting the major cities. Due to its route, it was classified over the decades as an “Express,” a “City Express,” and finally as a “EuroCity,” before service officially ended in 2014.
The SVT 18.16 high-speed railcar (later Class 175) pictured above is considered the absolute icon of GDR railway engineering and was the best-known and most prestigious train on the Vindobona route between Berlin and Vienna.
Key facts about the SVT 18.16 in Vindobona service at a glance:
The “ICE of the East”: Developed by VEB Waggonbau Görlitz, this luxury train was the flagship of the Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR). It was distinguished by its striking, aerodynamically optimized power car nose, two powerful 1,000-PS diesel engines, and a top speed of 160 km/h.
Period of Service: As the “Vindobona,” this series shaped international rail traffic, particularly from 1964 to 1979. The train was so popular that, in the minds of many passengers, it became inextricably linked with the name “Vindobona,” even though Austrian or Czech trainsets occasionally took over the route.
World-class comfort: The train was rarely seen on domestic routes within the GDR and was primarily reserved for Western and transit traffic, which generated foreign currency. It offered upscale amenities, including swivel seats (for more legroom and the ability to adjust to the direction of travel), required advance seat reservations, and featured an on-board kitchen that served freshly prepared meals.
The End of Service in 1979: Since the train’s capacity (usually four to five cars) could no longer meet the enormous demand, and the partner railways (especially the ÖBB) were unable to provide comparable railcars to maintain the agreed-upon schedule, the Vindobona was permanently converted to conventional, locomotive-hauled trains in 1979.
Current Highlight (June 2026): After more than six years of restoration work costing around 7 million euros, carried out by a nonprofit limited liability company, an original SVT 18.16 has returned to the tracks, ready for service, just in time for the summer season. Its first scheduled special trip with passengers took place on June 14, 2026.
Our archive contains numerous photos of this legendary series.