A SIX-YEAR project by Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) to reconstruct Salzburg main station was officially completed on November 7 at a cost of €250m.

Freight has always been an important business for Austrian Federal Railways, and the company's freight unit suffered a particularly rocky ride through the economic crisis. However, as Keith Barrow reports from Vienna, Rail Cargo Austria has taken the opportunity to address many long-term weaknesses in its structure with a reorganisation that is already yielding promising results.

INNSBRUCK Transport (IVB) has issued an international tender for 20 new 28m bi-directional LRVs for its metre-gauge network.

INSOLVENCY proceedings were launched on October 2 by Vienna's Commercial Court against wagon leasing company ERR Rail Rent Vermietungs.

LOWER Austrian Transport Company (Növog) has issued tenders for two used or new diesel locomotives with optional maintenance and financing, and for five panoramic coaches with an option for up to ten additional vehicles.

A BILATERAL agreement to substantially reduce journey times on the Prague – Linz route has moved a step closer following a meeting between representatives of Czech infrastructure manager SŽDC and Austria's ÖBB Infrastructure in České Budejovice on September 3.

AUSTRIA's Graz-Köflach Railway (GKB) published an international tender on September 9 for a contract to supply five four-axle diesel locomotives with an option for up to 15 additional units.

ON August 7 Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) subsidiary ÖBB Produktion published a tender for five second-hand electric locomotives certified to operate in Slovenia.

AUSTRIAN Federal Railways (ÖBB) has placed a €145m order with Siemens for an additional nine seven-car push-pull Railjet trains, the final option in a contract for 67 sets.

CONSTRUCTION began on one of the largest lots of the Brenner Base Tunnel on 18 July, when excavation commenced on the northern section between Tulfes and Pfons near Innsbruck.