Austria’s Koralm Railway Brings High-Speed Rail to New Heights

Austria is making strides in modernizing its rail network, unveiling the country’s longest tunnel in 2025. For Czechia, this presents an opportunity—but only if it seizes it.

Austria is taking bold steps to systematically modernize its railway infrastructure. By 2025, it will unveil the 127-kilometer Koralm Railway, which includes Austria’s longest rail tunnel to date. For Czechia, this monumental project represents a crucial opportunity to integrate into Europe’s north-south TEN-T corridor.

What’s Opening in Austria?

According to ÖBB, in December 2025, Austria will inaugurate the 127-kilometer Koralm Railway, featuring the 32.9-kilometer Koralm Tunnel, which connects Styria and Carinthia under the Koralpe mountain range. Until the Brenner Base Tunnel is completed, this will hold the title of Austria’s longest rail tunnel. Designed for speeds of up to 250 km/h, the line bridges Graz and Klagenfurt, improving both freight and passenger connectivity.

Einmal virtuell durch den Koralmtunnel spazieren? 🚶🏼‍♀️ Geht! Wir nehmen dich mit in den sechstlängsten Eisenbahntunnel der Welt. In Querschlag No. 24 von 70 kannst du zwischen den Tunnelröhren wechseln & die Technik begutachten. ▶ //t.co/zPmgD6vfRU#OEBBbauenauf #Suedstrecke pic.twitter.com/kTXuagqiGP

— ÖBB (@unsereOEBB) May 25, 2024

While freight operations will begin in October 2025, passenger trains will follow the December timetable. Before its full launch, the line must undergo 15,000 kilometers of testing and comprehensive system validations.

Austria’s Rail Network Investments

The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) oversees a 5,000-kilometer network, continuously modernized despite ongoing traffic. By 2029, ÖBB plans to invest EUR 21.1 billion in upgrading and expanding the system.

Efforts to connect Graz and Klagenfurt date back to the 1920s, but they only materialized in 1998. The EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) has been a vital contributor, covering 40% of construction costs and 50% of exploratory works for the Koralm Tunnel. Similarly, the Brenner Base Tunnel, linking Austria and Italy, benefits from up to 50% EU co-financing for construction.

Strategic Planning Through Framework Agreements

Austria executes its rail investments through six-year framework plans, drafted by ÖBB-Infrastruktur in consultation with the Ministry of Infrastructure. For TEN-T projects, these plans also involve coordination with the European Commission, ensuring seamless integration with Europe’s high-speed rail network.

Source: ÖBB