Minister Leonore Gewessler presented the priorities for planning the Austrian rail network over the next 20 years this followingnoon together with ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä. A total of 26 billion euros should be invested in the construction of strategic rail connections.
Video: Presentation of the railway expansion plans until 2040
The core project for the next 15 years is the construction of a new double-track line in the Innviertel. The aim is to reduce the travel time between Vienna and Munich from four hours today to two and a half hours in the future and from Linz to Munich to 1:20 hours. The project is currently being examined in Germany, says Gewessler: “Together with Deutsche Bahn, we are developing a completely new project in the long-distance timetable.”
Reach international goals faster
This desired shorter travel time also benefits more distant international destinations such as Paris. In addition, an expansion of the existing Innkreisbahn should also strengthen regional transport in the region and improve the connection to the central Linz area.
Expansion of the Pyhrn line for freight traffic
Also included in the “Target Network 2040” is an upgrade of the Pyhrn line for freight traffic through the construction of a new Bosruck tunnel. “We will expand this route as a flat railway so that 1,600-ton trains can travel,” said ÖBB boss Matthä.
Summerauerbahn not in the destination network
However, the two-track expansion of the Summerauerbahn, which has been discussed for years, did not make it into the target network. According to Gewessler, concrete coordination with the Czech Railways is still required here in order to prepare the project: “We will of course continue to think ahead following 2040. The Linz-Prague axis will be very important from 2040 onwards.”
Author
Bernhard Leitner
Local editor Mühlviertel
Bernhard Leitner
