Revitalizing Austria's Historic Semmering Railway: A EUR 59 Million Endeavor

photo: Zenger / ÖBB/The renovation work along the Semmering mountain route, Austria

The Semmering mountain route, an engineering marvel and a key part of Austria's railway network for the past 170 years is currently undergoing a much-needed renovation to ensure its continued operation until the Semmering Base Tunnel is operational in 2030.

Approximately 180 trains pass over this route daily, subjecting the railway to significant wear and tear due to the harsh weather conditions typical of its mountainous location. Combined with the daily grind of passenger and freight traffic, these conditions necessitate a comprehensive step-by-step renovation.

ÖBB is, therefore, spearheading this initiative with an investment of about EUR 59 million this year, focusing on track and switch renewals, drainage improvements, and the reinforcement of protective structures between Gloggnitz and Mürzzuschlag to enhance safety.

With extensive work scheduled between February 17th and May 20th, adjustments to the timetable and the implementation of rail replacement services are inevitable. Long-distance services will significantly change from April 6th to April 28th, with no trains running on the southern route between Wiener Neustadt and Mürzzuschlag. Local services are also affected, with bus replacements stepping in to ensure continuity.

This renovation project is a critical component of Austria's larger effort to transition towards more sustainable mobility solutions, with the ÖBB investing EUR 21.1 billion by 2029 in modernizing its railway systems.