Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) has unveiled its new 2025-2030 framework plan, committing to invest a total of €19.7 billion in upgrading the national railway network over the next five years—an average of over €3.2 billion annually. Of this, €4.7 billion will be allocated to infrastructure maintenance and fault detection.
Key projects include the Semmering and Brenner Base Tunnel projects, the construction of the four-track Western Line, and the modernization of Vienna's suburban rail network. The plan also covers upgrades to multiple regional railways in Lower Austria, such as the Traisental and Kampthal lines, as well as the Mattigtal Railway in Upper Austria and the Western and Eastern Railways in Styria. ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä noted that the investment not only drives economic growth but also enhances resilience against climate crises. Despite severe budget pressures, the Koralm Railway will still be put into operation in 2025, while other projects will be jointly reviewed with federal transport authorities to minimize disruptions to passenger services. As a result, a few projects, including the Eastern Railway Airport Express Link and the new Salzburg line, will be delayed.
Austrian Transport Minister Peter Hanke stressed that railway investment will remain high, with nearly €20 billion cumulatively invested by 2030 to accelerate transport transformation and boost the economy. Newly ordered trains will also be put into service to improve the passenger experience. To address the low utilization of regional railways, an evaluation of alternative systems for lines such as the Mühlkreis and Almtal in Upper Austria will be launched to explore public transport solutions independent of mainlines.
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