[3][4] In September 2007 Siemens received an additional order for 44 more Railjet trains from the Austrian Federal Railways.

[6] In September 2011 Siemens agreed the sale of sixteen Railjet trainsets to the Czech Railways (České Dráhy); the sets should have been originally built for an uncompleted order for ÖBB,[7] ČD's trainsets were to be hauled by Škoda's ČD Class 380 electric locomotives.

[10] In June 2014 ÖBB took up an option for a remaining nine railjets from Siemens, planned to be used on the Westbahn route between Vienna and Salzburg and will also be equipped to operate in Italy.

[12]: 7 The first twenty three ÖBB Class 1116 locomotives used in Railjet service were given a number of modifications: a third pantograph and the relevant train safety systems for operating outside Austria (Hungary, Switzerland and the Czech Republic) and a silver-colored side skirt below the floor level, giving a more streamlined appearance.

[17] The bodies of the vehicles are constructed from ribbed, cold-rolled steel, with the driving trailer deriving its forward end shape from the Taurus locomotives.

[27] Brake equipment is supplied by Knorr-Bremse, air-conditioning by Liebherr, and doors, carriage connections, toilets and seats are manufactured by other subcontractors.

From December 2018 faster Railjet trains were denominated as Railjet Express (RJX) between Salzburg and Vienna stopping only in Linz and Sankt Pölten in order to distinguish them from those with the additional stops in Vöcklabruck, Attnang-Puchheim, Wels, Sankt Valentin, Amstetten and Tullnerfeld.

Commercial services started on 14 December 2008 between Munich, Vienna and Budapest,[12]: 17 [21]: 11  gradually replacing the former EuroCity connection until September 2009.

Following the completion of the track improvement works on the Westbahn, running at speeds between 200–230 km/h (120–140 mph) from 2012, the journey time between Salzburg and Vienna is now about 2hr20min.

[31][32] Following the completion of the track improvement works on the Westbahn in December 2012, the journey time between Vienna and Innsbruck is now about 4hr15min.

Since December 2014, trains run from Graz via Vienna and Brno to Prague main station (Praha hlavní nádraží).

From December 2016, newly delivered Railjet trainsets replaced further InterCity trains on existing routes within Austria.

[12]: 10–16 Business class has the highest level of service, containing premium seating for 16 passengers located in the front part of the control car at the opposite end of the train to the locomotive.

[34] From the thirty eighth set of trains onwards the galley is replaced with a seated restaurant area.