ÖBB reached another milestone for the Wels terminal expansion, one of Austria’s largest and most important freight handling hubs.
The new administration and in-gate building is complete and already operational, bringing the goal of a modern, climate-friendly, and digitally networked logistics hub a significant step closer. The new administration and in-gate building serves as a prime example of environmentally responsible construction. The 1,400 m² building was constructed using solid wood construction, utilizing 1,000 m³ of timber. This permanently sequesters approximately 1,000 tonnes of CO₂.
The new building offers modern workplaces with training rooms, break areas, vending machines, and bicycle parking. Three separate entrance areas structure the layout – for customs, drivers, and staff.
Accessibility, clear pathways, and a pleasant spatial design create a modern working environment and make the location a contemporary and sustainable workplace.
Modern energy technologies, such as a 225 kWp photovoltaic system, radiant heating and cooling ceilings, heat pumps, and highly insulated building components, ensure sustainable operation. A light-filled atrium with a maple tree, wood paneling, and spacious lounge areas create a pleasant working environment. Barrier-free design and energy-efficient building technology underscore the building’s commitment to sustainability.
By 2027, Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), together with the European Union, will have invested around EUR 68 million in the comprehensive Wels terminal expansion. The project is part of the long-term strategy to strengthen rail freight transport and promote climate-friendly mobility.
The overall project aims to transform the Wels terminal into a through-terminal. Extending the loading tracks and crane track, along with a direct connection to the Westbahn railway line, will allow freight trains to access the terminal from both sides. This eliminates time-consuming shunting operations, enabling increased throughput in less time.
The modernised infrastructure ensures more efficient processes, shorter turnaround times, and improved capacity utilization. By handling entire trains up to 700 meters long, the site is becoming a central hub in the European freight transport system. The terminal’s expansion also provides a significant boost to both the economy and the environment. Already, around 20 percent of Austria’s total rail freight volume is handled via the Passau border crossing. But rail transport is not only of central importance to the domestic economy. Every tonne transported by rail is 30 times more climate-friendly than transported by road. Our terminals facilitate access to rail – a crucial contribution to climate protection and reducing the burden on the local population.
In addition to the structural modernisation, the focus is on the digitalisation of processes. Systems such as video gate technology and automated entry and exit processes ensure transparent, secure, and efficient operations.
“With the expansion of the Wels terminal, we are taking freight handling to a new level. Digital systems such as video gates, smart terminal processes, and, in the future, automated gantry cranes will make the site faster, more efficient, and future-proof. The expansion will increase terminal capacity by around 40 percent, all without requiring any additional land. These are the best conditions for shifting even more freight from road to rail,” said Johann Pluy, Board Member of ÖBB-Infrastruktur.
Located on the Western Railway Line, part of the Rhine-Danube Corridor, and with direct motorway access, the terminal is situated at one of Europe’s most strategically important transport hubs.
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