Foundation Anniversary: Austrian Federal Railways — October 1, 1923

The Austrian Federal Railways (Österreichische Bundesbahnen, ÖBB) began operations as an independent economic enterprise on 1 October 1923 in Vienna, removing the state rail network from the direct ministerial administration of the Federal Ministry for Trade and Transport. Created as a legal entity under public law by the Federal Railways Act passed by the Austrian National Council on 19 July 1923, the carrier initially operated under the abbreviation BBÖ (Bundesbahnen Österreichs) because the initials ÖBB were already used by the private Swiss Oensingen-Balsthal-Bahn, and was re-established as Österreichische Bundesbahnen in 1947 after its incorporation into the Deutsche Reichsbahn during the Nazi era.

A note on this date. Austrian railway histories record two 1923 dates alongside the post-war re-establishment in 1947: 19 July 1923, when the Austrian National Council enacted the Bundesbahngesetz constituting the state railways as a public-law legal entity, and 1 October 1923, when the enterprise commenced operations as an independent economic unit. This anniversary follows 1 October 1923, which ÖBB celebrates as its centenary date, and states both dates. We publish it with the warning rather than leave the page out, and if you can point us to a register or an archive that carries it we will confirm or correct it.

Dates verified on ÖBB-Holding AG Corporate History and Cargo Journal.