ÖBB’s plan for 2017-2022 includes investments of EUR 15.2 billion for extension and modernisation of the railway infrastructure, improved quality of services and a higher transport share.
With 665 km of railway to 1 million citizens, Austria has the densest railway network in Europe. Compared to Germany, the density of the network is 60% higher, while compared to the “old” EU countries, density is on average 75% higher and 55% higher compared to the EU-28 average. Also, the rail connection offer is high with 9 sites per 100 km, higher than that of Germany which has 6 such operational sites per 100 km. Over 80% of railway traffic in Austria (target, source and domestic traffic) is shipped through railway connections and, also, a significant part of container transport is shipped by rail to industrial and commercial areas.
A significant step in improving the connection of the national railway network to that in the neighbouring countries has been the opening of the two freight corridors: the Baltic-Adriatic Corridor, providing connections from Poland to the Czech Republic and from Austria and Italy) and the Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor corresponding in Austria to the Brenner Corridor.
In 2015, the Austrian railway sector managed to fully commission the Vienna Central Station, to rebuild the Central Station, to introduce the WLAN service in long-distance trains and stations (by the end of 2016, all passenger stations will have WLAN), two Cityjet trains were delivered (32 more trains will be delivered by the end of 2016), the “SMILE” integrated mobility research project was completed, ÖBB-Holding AG’s investment in Verkehrsauskunft Österreich (VAO) GmbH was approved in order to supply “cross-modal” information on traffic at national level.
Austria will invest around EUR 2 billion annually in rail infrastructure, in modernisation, extension and maintenance works to increase infrastructure capacity and attract a higher freight and passenger flow.
EUR 15.2 billion
To meet the railway system development objectives, the Ministry of Infrastructure announced the allocation of EUR 15.2 billion in 2017-2022. The plan for the next 6 years will be supplemented annually and adapted to each period.
During the presentation of the Council of Ministers plan, in October, Minister of Infrastructure Jörg Leichtfried said that the investment continued the “2025+” strategy. “Every year we earmark about EUR 2 billion for the further expansion of the railway, thus securing more than 40,000 jobs throughout Austria. The framework plan provides for investments in all provinces and was a further step to implement the planned network of destinations 2025+,” Leichtfried said.
A key objective of the plan is shifting freight traffic to railways by building new facilities that will further increase the quality of services. “A high-performance rail network makes railways more attractive for freight transport. In addition, the expansion of the cargo terminal in Wolfurt and the cargo centre in Vienna creates important hubs for cargo transport by rail,” Leichtfried mentioned.
The network extension plan includes the allocation of EUR 1 billion for safety and operational management systems, EUR 3.7 billion will go to station reconstruction projects, terminals, new routes and multiplication of lines. Brenner Base Tunnel will receive a financing of EUR 2.5 billion, while EUR 4 billion will go to investments in rail stations, park and ride, WLAN, mobile communications (EUR 70 million), noise protection and security of tunnels. Also, EUR 4 billion will be granted to the new routes in the south including Koralm Line and Semmering Base Tunnel projects. 60% of the amount will be invested in the existing infrastructure.
Under the plan, EUR 580 million will be granted to infrastructure maintenance projects, EUR 600 million to reinvestments in infrastructure and EUR 30 million for parking (construction of 2,000 spaces and 1,000 Bike&Ride). Also, EUR 1 billion will be invested in signalling and safety systems (such as ETCS, level crossings etc.) EUR 170 million will go to investments in terminals including Wien Süd, Wels, Wolfurt and Linz.
Projects
Semmering base tunnel: is one of the most important railway infrastructure projects in Central Europe. The 27.3 km long twin-tube will be part of the Baltic-Adriatic Corridor. Construction work started in 2014 and is expected to be completed in 2024. Two of the three tunnel sections are under construction.
Brenner base tunnel: the tunnel will be 64-km long and requires investments of EUR 8.8 billion. 60% of the amount comes from EU funds and the rest from Austria and Italy. The latter announced the allocation of EUR 2.65 billion. It will become operational in 2025 and will represent the rail connection between Italy and Austria, as part of Corridor 5, Helsinki-Valletta. At present, both countries develop works in two sites.
Koralm railway: a CEF financing of EUR 57.5 million was obtained for this project. At the end of 2015, over 110 km of 130 km of line were completed or were under construction. Also, the project includes the construction of a 33-km long tunnel. The line project will provide railway connection between Graz and Klagenfurt involving the development of 12 new stations with Park&Ride and Bike&Ride facilities.
- Inzersdorf, terminal construction-Vienna Cargo Center – is a multifunctional freight center under construction in Inzersdorf, at the junction between Pettendorfer with the S1 highway. The project is developed in several phases; the first construction phase was launched in 2013. The entire project could be completed in December 2017.
- St. Polten: a new construction-freight train bypass, through Pummersdorfer Tunnel, will allow redirecting freight trains to reduce rail freight traffic through St. Pölten Station.
- Wien Blumental-Wampersdorf: 2 track expansion, Pottendorf line, from Vienna Meidling on Wampersdorf to Wiener Neustadt. The expansion of Pottendorfer line creates the conditions for a better long-distance transport. The project, divided into two sections, is underway and will be completed by the end of 2019.
- Linz-Wels: 4-track expansion; the project includes the construction of two lines that will complement the two existing lines. The new line will integrate Blue Danube Airport (Linz) promoting intermodality.
- Gloggnitz-Murzzuschlag: new route construction (Semmeringbasistunnel)
To develop the “Modern West Route (Weststrecke)” project, at the end of 2015, ÖBB and the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed a EUR 1.8 billion contract. The investment will be distributed over the next 3 years in EUR 600 million instalments. The priority projects for this financing include Semmering base tunnel, the development of South Vienna freight terminal and part of doubling the section on Pottendorf Line. These projects are located on the Baltic-Adriatic Corridor.
by Pamela Luica
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