Work underway on Linz - Wels four-track project in Austria

Project will boost capacity of the vital West Line.

From left to right: Markus Achleitner, state councillor for economic affairs, Günther Steinkellner, state councillor for infrastructure, Andreas Matthä, ÖBB CEO, Leonore Gewessler, climate protection minister, Wolfgang Bogensberger, head of the European Commission Representation in Austria.

Photo Credit: ÖBB/Pleschko

AUSTRIAN Federal Railways (ÖBB) has broken ground on the remaining section of a €954m project to quadruple the 24km double-track West main line between Linz and Wels in Upper Austria.

A ceremony was held to mark the start of work on the Linz - Marchtrenk section of the line on July 1. Work is now underway to provide four tracks on the entire section of the West Line from the west of Linz station to Wels.

ÖBB says around €110m will be invested in the project this year. The upgraded line will accommodate speeds of up to 230km/h, boost the capacity of suburban services in the Linz - Wels area, and meet anticipated growth in demand on the line, which is already served by 400-450 trains per day.

The project involves the construction of 64km of new track, 120,000m² of noise barriers, and the addition of three stations. Preparatory work commenced in March.

ÖBB says a section of the line will be relocated “a few hundred metres south” in the Pasching - Hörsching area to serve the growing commercial area around Hörsching Airport. Three new stations will be added here at Leonding, Hörsching, and Oftering.

The project continues the steady expansion of the West Line, which carries a third of all trains operating in Austria. The line already has four tracks between Vienna and Linz Kleinmünchen, east of the main station, with work completed on this section in 2017. This includes the 60km Vienna Meidling - St Pölten high-speed section, which opened in 2012. ÖBB says planning is progressing to quadruple the remaining 4km Linz Kleinmünchen - Linz Signalbrücke section east of Linz main station.