A joint declaration of intent has been signed on August 30, 2024, in Graz to expand Austria’s Southern Railway between Werndorf and Spielfeld-Straß. The initial construction work will start in 2028 in the Spielfeld-Straß station area, subject to all approvals.
Under the motto “Southern Styria is getting fit for the future”, the agreement was signed by the Federal Minister for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology, Leonore Gewessler, Governor of Styria, Christopher Drexler, Deputy Governor, Anton Lang, and Member of the Board of Management of ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG, Judith Engel.
“With the expansion of the Southern Railway, the course has been set for climate-friendly mobility in southern Styria – with many advantages for passengers, the region and with great international importance,” the minister Leonore Gewessler said.
The project involves double track expansion of Werndorf – Spielfeld-Straß railway line as well as the modernisation of train stations and removal of the level crossings. The project is expected to be completed in 2036.
“The new southern railway line will revolutionise the rail connection between Graz and Maribor. Especially when it comes to our location, the connection between the Cargo Centre Graz and the port of Koper is extremely important for freight transport, the economy and therefore many jobs. The fact that Koper is one of the most important goods transshipment points for the Styrian economy is demonstrated not least by the fact that the Cargo Center Graz is the largest business partner of the Slovenian freight port,” the Governor of Styria said adding that the double-track expansion is the “first step towards making the infrastructure towards the state border fit for the future.”
The implementation of the project will provide shorter travel times and better connections to Spielfeld-Straß, Leibnitz, Graz, Bad Radkersburg and Maribor.
“Our goal is to get as many people as possible to switch to the climate-friendly train. By expanding the southern railway, we are creating a highly attractive option compared to the road. Trains can not only run more frequently, but also faster: the travel time between Graz and Maribor can be reduced from 70 to around 45 minutes in the future,” Judith Engel said.
Doubling the track along the Southern Railway, the travel time between Graz main station and Maribor main station, in Slovenia, can be reduced from the currently 70 minutes to around 45 minutes. In addition, train stations will be converted and modernised to be barrier-free and railway crossings will be closed. This will enable trains to travel faster in the future. Together with increased frequency, this will create a highly attractive option compared to cars. following the implementation of the project, significantly better connection will be provided to Graz main station junction, including the new southern route with the Koralmbahn and Semmering Base Tunnel.
“The double track will bring massive improvements in public transport for Styria. More frequent services, shorter travel times and even better connections to numerous train stations in the region. I am also very pleased that we can take another step in the area of environmentally friendly freight transport,” the Deputy Governor said.
With the expansion of the route, traffic capacity will increase towards Port of Koper, the most important freight hub in the northern Adriatic which is also of great importance for the Styrian and Austrian economies. With a continuous double track towards the cross border, the route is being prepared for higher capacities. This is being done in close coordination with the expansion on the Slovenian side, so that cross-border trains will no longer have to make intermediate stops to change locomotives as before so that traffic will be more efficient and faster.
Austria’s Southern Railway is located on the Baltic-Adriatic corridor, and along the route, 3.5 million people are living which need improved and accessible transport services while ensuring economic growth as the route is extremely important for international and Austrian freight transport. Along the Sourthern Route, ÖBB is modernising 20 km of track and expanding the infrastructure by constructing 170 km of new track and 80 km of new tunnels and 150 new bridges are being built. From 2030, trains will run from Vienna to Klagenfurt via Graz in 2 hours 40 minutes covering 470 km of line, crossing Semmering and the Koralpe mountains. The entire modernisation and expansion programme comprises more projects including the expansion of the Northern Line, modernisation of the Vienna – Bratislava route, Semmering Base tunnel, the 130-km Koralm Line, among others.
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