The Austrian Railways, ÖBB, has started the modernisation and electrification of Traisentalbahn, the Traisen Valley Railway from St. Pölten to Hainfeld or Schrambach, in Lower Austria. The projecte is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2027, making Traisentalbahn more attractive.
In the coming years, ÖBB will invest more than EUR 138 million in this project, covering the modernisation of tracks and switch systems, signalling, control and safety technology, as well as electrification with 100% green traction current.
It also includes the modernisation of stations and stops which will also benefit from digital passenger information systems, barrier-free accessibility, new lighting, and waiting shelters with seating. All stations and stops will be adapted to passengers with reduced mobility.
In addition to the redesign of many train stations, park & ride and bike & ride facilities are being built or expanded and several railway crossings will be eliminated to ensure increased safety while other measures will be implemented to increase safety on the existing railway crossings. This will bring more comfort and quality when travelling by train and an increase in safety for roads and rail.
This project will “ensure more comfort, better intervals and shorter travel times. These are investments in the future of the region that provide real prospects and massively improve rural areas. With new park & ride facilities, we are creating an easy and quick switch to the train. The regional bus service will be adapted to the new rail concept from 2027 and will function as a feeder system to the railway from the Upper Traisental or in the Gölsental” says the Deputy Governor of the State of Lower Austria, Udo Landbauer.
In the first construction phase, ÖBB will perform works on the Traisen – Hainfeld section including its electrification, the construction of Bernreit junction station, new bridges and various buildings, as well as the modernisation of the existing stops, and the reconstruction of safety systems including railway crossings. Preparatory works on the Traisen – Hainfeld section have started at the end of January and during the main construction work, expected to be completed in October, the section will be closed.
“The Traisentalbahn from St. Pölten to Hainfeld or Schrambach is an important route for the development of the Lilienfeld district and is particularly important for schoolchildren and commuters. With the electrification of the route and the reconstruction measures, we are creating the conditions for a half-hourly service in the Traisental during peak hours,” says Judith Engel, Member of the Board for ÖBB-Infrastruktur.
He also underlines that the project will bring “significant improvements for the region in order to make switching to the train as attractive as possible,” while using electric trains instead of diesel trainsets, thus reducing CO2 emissions and noise emissions.
The Traisen Valley Railway from St. Pölten to Hainfeld or Freiland is an important route for opening up the district of Lilienfeld, 82 km west of Vienna.
Photos: ÖBB, Feuchtenhofer Architekten ZT-GmbH
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