AUSTRIAN Federal Railways (ÖBB) has adopted a €19.5bn framework infrastructure investment plan for 2027–2032, with a further €5bn earmarked for maintenance and renewals.

ÖBB says that, even under challenging budgetary constraints, targeted investments will continue to be made in infrastructure projects considered crucial for stability, quality, and capacity.

Austria’s budget deficit, which exceeds the European Union's 3% limit, has required structural consolidation and the government has agreed to save €5bn in 2027 and 2028. Nevertheless, railway investment has been maintained, as Austria’s mobility minister Peter Hanke, explains.

“We have succeeded in maintaining the ÖBB framework plan at a very high level for the next six years, despite consolidation measures,” Hanke says. “Investments of around €3bn per year are a clear commitment to expanding the railway network.”

"ÖBB is also contributing to budget consolidation,” says ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä. “However, saving doesn't mean stopping: every construction project started will be completed. And saving also means prioritising projects. Every euro invested will be used where it will have the greatest impact on traffic.”

Corridors

The new framework plan will focus on key corridors with projects coordinated to reinforce their impact. ÖBB says combining measures helps to manage construction projects more efficiently and reduce disruption to rail services.

The new construction concept has already been adopted for the expansion of the northern main line and has reduced the construction time by three years and saved around €100m. Completion is currently planned for 2034.

ÖBB says major projects, such as the Semmering Base Tunnel with its planned commissioning in 2029, and the related modernisation of the Semmering mountain line between Gloggnitz and Mürzzuschlag due for completion in 2028, are still on track.

As are the upgrading of the Vienna S-Bahn, which will be completed in 2027, and the reconstruction of the northern end of Wiener Neustadt due to be completed in 2029.

“The Brenner Base Tunnel northern approach also remains on scheduled for completion by 2039,” ÖBB says.

Track quadrupling between Linz and Wels will be completed on time in 2031. Further west, track doubling near Bludenz towards the Arlberg is on course for commissioning in 2029.

Safety and resilience

The investment plan includes projects to improve safety such as the closure of level crossings, measures to make the infrastructure more resilient to climate change, improved energy efficiency at stations, integrating renewable energy into the overhead catenary and decarbonisation through electrification.

While ÖBB says 87% of projects are continuing as planned, some schemes have been rescheduled. For example, track quadrupling of the West Line between Köstendorf and Salzburg will now be completed in 2046, two years later than originally planned, which will save around €300m.

Similarly, the construction of the link from Vienna Airport to the Slovak capital of Bratislava and onwards to Budapest has been postponed by two years and is now expected to be completed in 2037.

The complete modernisation of the 163km Franz Josef Railway between Vienna and the Czech border at Gmünd/České Velenice, including selective track doubling, will now be completed in 2034 instead of 2033.

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