“Mainly delayed because of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis in 2014, the extension of the Austrian rail network to the Russian rail network for freight transport must be prioritised”, announced the Government in Vienna on 18 August. Necessary costs would amount to EUR 6.5 billion.
“The construction of the 400 km of broad-gauge railway, between Kosice (Slovakia, near the Ukrainian border) and Vienna would seamlessly connect Asia to Central Europe through the Trans-Siberian railway”, declared Austrian Minister of Transport, Jörg Leichtfried.
The project, for several years now in the attention of the authorities, was subject to a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the railway companies of Russia, Ukraine, Slovakia and Austria in 2013, before being “left behind”.
Austria is now refreshing the project and says it is the right time to resume talks, especially since the railway freight transport between Europe and the East is a lot faster and eco-friendlier than transport by sea.
The project, estimated to take 10 years to complete, could result in an additional EUR 30 billion added value 30 years after its commissioning, half the amount being Austria’s share, according to a feasibility study published by Austria’s Transport Ministry.
Those who militate in favour of the project estimate that the new railway might be used by around 20,000 trains every year, each carrying 134 containers.
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