Austria has drawn up a 'bold' new plan to expand its rail network over the next 16 years. By 2040, this Alpine country will add dozens of new routes and connections as part of ongoing efforts to increase the appeal of rail travel.
Minister of Climate Protection Leonore said: “The 2040 target network is our vision of what a modern railway system in our country could look like. “This is a railway network for a climate-neutral Austria, where climate protection and good mobility go hand in hand.” Gewessler during the announcement of the plan last month.
“The design is full of bold ideas, new connections and better rail lines,” he added. “[This] is the right compass for a sustainable rail infrastructure for the next fifteen or twenty years.”
What does the 2040 rail network plan mean for Austria?
The 2040 network plan of the government and national railway operator ÖBB is currently in draft form. The public will be able to speak their mind before it is completed towards the end of this year.
This 'master vision' for Austria's railway future covers 25 projects in 67 clustered areas; these include a new double-track line in Upper Austria and Bavaria, which is expected to significantly shorten travel times between Vienna and Munich.
Passenger trains will travel a total of 2040 million kilometers per year by 255. According to the plan, that's one and a half times what they do today. When creating the plan, ÖBB and the government prioritized the expansion of regional transport and networking in metropolitan areas, as well as international connections.
The cost of the draft measures reaches approximately 26 billion euros. But the government sees this as an investment worth making, and one that Austrians will reap the benefits of with new jobs and greater connections.
Which Austrian train routes are undergoing improvements?
The new line passing through Upper Austria and Bavaria is one of the flagship projects of the improved 2040 network. This New Innkreisbahn (NIB) route (also under consideration by Germany) could reduce travel time between Vienna and Munich from four hours to two and a half hours. Shorter travel times can also benefit more distant international destinations like Paris.
With the expansion of the line between Vienna Heiligenstadt and Vienna Praterkai, Vienna's local transport services will also be improved. He also promises that the expansion of railway lines in the Bregenz region will “greatly improve” local transport in the entire Rhine Valley.