The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) announced this week that the airport link between Vienna Airport and Bruck an der Leitha was submitted for environmental impact assessment.
The project integrates Vienna Airport into international high-performance route network. EIA decision expected in 2026.
The project aims to offer a climate-friendly alternative to the car
Tens of thousands of people commute daily between northern Burgenland, eastern Lower Austria and Vienna, according to ÖBB . The airport link will make the rail connection even more attractive and offer a climate-friendly alternative to the car: the new, modern high-performance route will make it possible to travel directly from northern Burgenland to Vienna Airport and on to Vienna Mitte without changing trains.
“Thanks to a new regional train station, the communities of Klein-Neusiedl, Schwadorf and Enzersdorf an der Fischa will have an efficient rail connection for the first time”, says ÖBB.
By connecting Vienna Airport to the European high-performance network, short-haul flights can also be reduced in the future.
Start of EIA procedure for the Vienna Airport link
After more than six years of intensive planning work and regular coordination with the states of Lower Austria and Burgenland, the affected municipalities and Vienna Airport AG at the round table, the extensive documents were handed over to the responsible Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) on June 11.
The technical planning documents form the basis for the environmental impact assessment procedure (EIA procedure), which is managed by the BMK.
In the EIA procedure, which is mandatory for large construction projects, all impacts of the project on traffic, people, nature, soil, water, air, climate, landscape, material and cultural assets are recorded.
For this purpose, experts prepare specialist reports on the respective aspects – for example ecology, geology, water or sound technology – in relation to the technical planning of the project.
The planning and the specialist reports are checked and evaluated by independent experts appointed by the ministry.
After an initial review of the documents, the competent authority will issue an edict stating where and for what period all submitted documents will be available for public inspection. During this time, all parties to the proceedings will also have the opportunity to submit a statement.
The completion of the procedure with a decision from the BMK is planned for 2026. According to the implementation planning, preliminary work is to start in 2027. Completion is targeted for 2034.
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