AUSTRIAN Federal Railways (ÖBB) says testing of the new Koralm Railway connecting Graz and Klagenfurt in Carinthia has entered its final phase, marking a major milestone ahead of its official launch on December 14.
In recent weeks, teams of ÖBB specialists have conducted intensive test runs using individual locomotives, specially equipped measuring vehicles, and Railjet passenger trains on the new 130km line. These trials reached speeds of up to 250km/h, enabling experts to assess system performance under full operating conditions.
The testing programme involved a multidisciplinary team of ÖBB engineers and external partners. Specialists in rail systems, measurement technology, signalling, and ETCS examined a range of parameters including vibrations, power supply, and radio signal quality. Speeds were gradually increased throughout the testing phase, ultimately reaching 250km/h - exceeding the Railjet’s regular top operating speed of 230km/h.
“The results clearly show that all systems and models meet expectations in real-world conditions,” says Klaus Schneider, project manager at ÖBB Infrastructure. “This brings us significantly closer to commissioning.”
With testing now complete, temporary line closures in Carinthia and Styria will end, and the final regulatory approval procedures are set to begin. Freight services on the new line are expected to start in October. Ahead of full passenger operation, training for ÖBB drivers and technicians will begin in August, while further safety exercises with emergency services will continue in the coming months.
The centrepiece of the new railway is the 32.8km Koralm Tunnel, the third-longest in Europe, excavation of which was completed in 2020, 18 years after the first exploratory tunnels were bored and 12 after full construction began. The first passenger train ran through the tunnel in June 2023, while the western 53km section of the Koralm Railway, from Wolfsberg to Klagenfurt via St Paul, opened in December 2023.
This section includes three new tunnels totalling 6km. The complete line runs for 50km in tunnel and over 100 bridges, while there is a total of 23 new and upgraded stations.
The detailed journey times will be announced with confirmation of the new 2025-26 timetable on September 16 ahead of the December launch. The Koralm Railway is expected to transform regional travel, reducing the current rail journey time of nearly 3 hours between Graz and Klagenfurt to just 45 minutes.
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