Austria’s Railway Expansion Plan: Making Train Travel More Attractive by 2040
Austria is gearing up to expand its rail network significantly over the next 16 years. The goal is to add dozens of new routes and connections, with the aim of making train travel even more attractive by 2040.
The new network plan includes ambitious targets such as reducing the travel time between Vienna and Munich by an impressive one and a half hours. Currently, the journey takes around four hours, but with the planned improvements, this time could be significantly shortened.
According to Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler, the target network for 2040 is a vision of a modern, climate-neutral rail system in which climate protection and good mobility go hand in hand. The plan is full of bold ideas, new connections, and improved railway lines.
The 2024 network plan, a joint effort by the government and rail operator OBB, is still in its planning phases and will be open to the public for feedback before it is finalized later this year.
The plan covers 67 projects in 25 areas, with a particular focus on a new double-track line in Bavaria and Upper Austria. This new line is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Vienna and Munich, marking a major milestone in the expansion of Austria’s rail network.
In addition to reducing travel times, the plan also aims to increase the total distance traveled by passenger trains to 255 million kilometers per year, which is one and a half times more than the current distance. The cost of these measures is estimated to be around €26 billion.
One of the main projects included in the 2040 network plan is the New Innkreisbahn (NIB) route, which will cut travel time between Vienna and Munich from four to two and a half hours. This shorter travel time could also benefit destinations farther away, such as Paris.
The expansion doesn’t stop at long-distance travel. Vienna’s local transport services are also expected to expand, with a new line between Vienna Heiligenstadt and Vienna Praterkai. Additionally, the expansion of railway lines in the Bregenz area will significantly improve local transport in the entire Rhine Valley.
Austria has a history of initiatives aimed at improving travel, including the introduction of an affordable ‘Klimaticket’ that covers all means of public transport. The country also launched a new generation of night trains to Germany and a campaign targeting young people with special ticket offers. Last year, a campaign promoting climate-friendly transportation offered those who got a ‘climate ticket’ tattooed the chance to win an annual ticket that allows for unlimited travel throughout Austria for just €3 a day.
With these ambitious plans and initiatives, Austria is well on its way to becoming a leader in sustainable and efficient rail travel. The expansion and improvements to the country’s rail network will undoubtedly make train travel even more attractive by 2040.
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