Electrification Begins on the Line Between Bratislava and Austria: Line Speed to Increase by Up to Half

The electrification of the line aims to reduce the environmental impact and increase the safety and fluidity of transport.

Starting this week, a comprehensive reconstruction and electrification of the railway on the line from Devínska Nová Ves to the Austrian border at Marchegg will begin. The project aims to increase the line speed from 80 km/h to 120 km/h. The main goal of the reconstruction is to shorten travel times, increase operating speed, and improve overall cross-border passenger and freight transport between Slovakia and Austria. Due to the construction works, there will be a complete stoppage of traffic in the section in question, reports SME.

Slovak Railways considers the reconstruction justified. "The electrification of the line will be environmentally beneficial, and the reconstruction of the infrastructure, given its high age, is warranted. The implementation of the work will reduce maintenance costs, increase the line speed from 80 km/h to 120 km/h, enhance the safety and fluidity of railway transport, and enable the electric operation of trains between Bratislava and Vienna, thus reducing the environmental burden," said ŽSR.

The construction is divided into two parts. Construction A involves the electrification of the line between Devínska Nová Ves and Marchegg. Construction B includes a complex reconstruction of the bridge structure on the given route. The accepted contract value exceeds EUR 10.9 million, and the construction period is 300 days from the handover of the first construction site. The reconstruction is being carried out by the Austrian company PORR and is financed by the Connecting Europe Facility and the state budget.