This year alone, ÖBB is investing around 110 million euros in the four-track expansion of the western line between Linz and Wels. Construction also officially began this week for the conversion and expansion of the Wels freight terminal, which has been one of ÖBB’s largest and most important goods transshipment points since the 1990s. The 68 million euro project is co-financed by the European Union. By 2027, the loading tracks will be extended to 700 meters, two new gantry cranes will be installed and the terminal will be converted to make it passable.
“By converting the Wels terminal, we are creating the conditions for higher goods throughput in a shorter time and with less effort. This means that as many goods as possible can be reloaded quickly between road and rail,” says Judith Engel, CEO of ÖBB-Infrastructure AG.
Contribution to climate protection
EU Ambassador Martin Selmayr added: “It is imperative to shift more traffic from road to rail in order to counteract climate change. As an important hub in the center of Europe, the Wels terminal is an important part of the transport transition in Europe.”
At 580 meters long, the existing loading tracks of the crane runway are now too short to handle freight trains. In addition, they are only connected to the western route on one side via the marshalling yard to the west. The core of the renovation is the creation of a modern drive-through terminal. To this end, an additional connection to the western route will be created east of the terminal. In addition, the cranable length of the four loading tracks will be extended to 700 meters. In the future, longer freight trains will be able to enter and leave the terminal – from the west and east.
During the conversion, the use of space and traffic routing will be optimized and the parking spaces for semi-trailers, containers and swap bodies will be increased. The administration building will be rebuilt using wood construction and a PV system.
The work also entails restrictions on road traffic. Impacts are expected in the area of the junction to the A25 motorway by May 2024. Dillerstrasse and Unterharter Strasse will be closed. From February 28th, Terminal Street will also be difficult to pass.
