Twin City Liner marks 20 years as Vienna-Bratislava's iconic catamaran

The Twin City Liner, a high-speed catamaran known as 'Twinny', recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. It first set sail from Vienna to Bratislava on 1 June 2006, marking a key moment for transport between the two cities. The service was originally launched to strengthen ties between Vienna and Bratislava after Slovakia joined the EU in 2004. Over the years, it has become a major part of Vienna’s tourism, carrying around 190,000 passengers each year. The current vessel, christened in 2019, is the fastest and most advanced catamaran on the Danube, reaching speeds of up to 80 km/h and completing the trip in 75 minutes without passing through locks.

Operations were paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the ferries kept at Handelskai dock. The Twin City Liner is run by Central Danube, a joint venture between Wien Holding and Raiffeisenlandesbank Niederösterreich-Wien.

Now, plans for the Twin City Liner 3.0 are in progress, aiming for better environmental performance through lower fuel use. However, the new design will likely keep a similar length, as a larger vessel would struggle to turn in the 50-metre-wide Danube Canal. The Twin City Liner remains a vital transport and tourism link. The upcoming 3.0 version will focus on sustainability while maintaining the route’s efficiency. Its continued operation supports travel between Vienna and Bratislava.