The Austrian federal government has approved ÖBB’s framework plan for 2027–2032, which includes EUR 19.5 billion in investments in rail infrastructure. The program maintains a high level of investment but also includes prioritizing certain projects, postponing others, and making cost savings in the context of fiscal consolidation.
Austria continues its massive investments in rail infrastructure. The federal government has approved the framework plan ÖBB for the period 2027–2032, with a total volume of approximately EUR 19.5 billion.
The plan establishes the financial basis for Austria’s major rail infrastructure projects and is presented by the authorities as a commitment to modernizing the network, increasing capacity, and supporting the transition to low-emission transportation.
In addition to the EUR 19.5 billion earmarked for investments, ÖBB is allocating another EUR 5 billion for maintenance, repairs, inspections, and keeping the infrastructure in good working order.
Investments of over EUR 3 billion per year
Peter Hanke, Austria’s Minister of Mobility, stated that the new plan sends a clear signal for the development of rail transport.
“At the heart of the framework plan are the people who depend on reliable rail service every day. We have managed to maintain the ÖBB framework plan at a very high level for the next six years, despite contributions toward fiscal consolidation. Investments of approximately 3 billion EUR per year represent a clear commitment to the development of the rail network, to Austria’s economy, and to advancing the mobility transition,” said Peter Hanke.
According to the federal government, between 2027 and 2029, more than EUR 3 billion will be invested annually in the expansion of the rail network. The amounts will then rise to EUR 3.2 billion in 2030, EUR 3.3 billion in 2031, and EUR 3.8 billion in 2032—the highest level envisaged in the plan.
Andreas Matthä, CEO of ÖBB, emphasized that the operator is contributing to fiscal consolidation without halting projects already underway.
“ÖBB is also contributing to fiscal consolidation. But saving money does not mean stopping: every construction project that has begun will be completed. And saving money also means that projects are prioritized. Every EUR invested is used where it has the greatest impact on traffic. With the new framework plan, ÖBB continues to build a strong and reliable rail infrastructure for the future,” said Andreas Matthä.
Projects Grouped by Rail Corridors
The new plan emphasizes a corridor-oriented approach.
Projects on major routes will be coordinated so that their effects complement one another and enhance the impact on the network.
ÖBB maintains that this approach will, in the long term, lead to greater punctuality, improved reliability, better connections, more attractive transfers between services, and shorter travel times.
At the same time, grouping the projects together should allow for more efficient management of construction sites and reduce disruptions to regular rail operations.
The plan includes modernizing existing infrastructure, expanding certain capacities, implementing modern train safety and traffic control systems, as well as ongoing reinvestment in the network and facilities.
More Modern Stations and Multimodal Services
Another key focus is the modernization of stations and the development of multimodal services.
ÖBB will invest in Park&Ride and Bike&Ride facilities, Rail&Drive locations, passenger information systems, improvements to waiting areas, and additional services at stations.
The goal is to make train travel more comfortable and user-friendly, including the first- and last-mile segments.
The plan also includes investments in safety and resilience. Measures include the elimination of some level crossings, adapting infrastructure to climate change, increasing energy efficiency in stations and operational buildings, as well as investments in powering the overhead contact line with renewable energy.
Electrification also remains an important component of the decarbonization program.
Semmering and Brenner remain on track
Among the key projects that remain “on track” is the Semmering Base Tunnel, with commissioning planned for 2029. Closely linked to this project is the renewal of the Semmering mountain line between Gloggnitz and Mürzzuschlag, which is scheduled to continue through 2028.
Also on the schedule are the modernization of the northern junction at Wiener Neustadt by 2029, the modernization of the Vienna S-Bahn and its access routes by 2027, as well as the modernization of the Verbindungsbahn, scheduled for completion in 2036.
On the Nordbahn, the new construction concept has made it possible to shorten the duration of the works by 3 years and achieve savings of approximately 100 million EUR. Completion is currently scheduled for 2034.
The northern access to the Brenner Base Tunnel also remains on schedule, with completion planned for 2039.
On the western corridor, the expansion to four tracks between Linz and Wels is proceeding as planned, with completion estimated for 2031. Further west, the doubling of the track at Bludenz toward Arlberg, as part of the Klosterbogen project, remains on schedule, with commissioning planned for 2029.
The government has decided not to delay access to the Brenner
Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker stated that the government is committed to shifting traffic to rail and to completing the access routes to the Brenner Base Tunnel, so that the pressure of transit traffic on Tyrol is reduced.
According to the government, in the context of budgetary consolidation for the years 2027 and 2028, the ÖBB framework plan had approximately 500 EUR million less available for these two years. Three options were considered: postponing the northern Brenner access, delaying the rail link to Vienna Airport by two years, or delaying approximately 12 expansion projects throughout Austria.
Ultimately, the government chose to postpone the airport link project, while maintaining the 2039 deadline for the northern Brenner access.
Peter Hanke said that, given the situation of Tyrolean residents affected by transit traffic, postponing the Brenner access routes would have sent the wrong signal.
Austria will continue political and technical discussions with Germany to coordinate the access routes to the Brenner Base Tunnel, a project considered a major European initiative.
87% of projects are proceeding as planned
ÖBB states that 87% of existing projects will proceed according to schedule.
However, some projects have been reorganized to free up investment resources where the impact on transportation corridors is greater.
For example, the expansion of the western corridor to four tracks in the Salzburger Flachgau area, between Köstendorf and Salzburg, is now scheduled for completion in 2046, compared to 2044 previously. At the same time, detailed planning has made it possible to reduce the construction period by 3 years and lower the required investment by approximately 300 million EUR.
Flughafenspange, the rail link to Vienna International Airport in the direction of Bratislava and onward to Budapest, has been postponed by 2 years, with completion now estimated for 2037 instead of 2035. Design work, however, is continuing as planned.
The complete modernization of the Franz-Josefs-Bahn in Lower Austria, including the selective doubling of the line, will be completed one year later, in 2034 instead of 2033.
The modernization of other stations on the inland section of the western corridor in Lower Austria will continue in phases until 2037.
On the Pyhrnstrecke, the selective double-tracking between Nettingsdorf and Rohr-Bad Hall is now scheduled to become operational in 2039, instead of 2037.
Some regional modernizations are being postponed
Adjustments are also being made on several regional lines in Styria and Carinthia.
The modernization of the Ossiacherseebahn is now estimated for 2040, compared to 2036 previously. The electrification of the Zeltweg–Pöls section is postponed to 2034, instead of 2027. The Salzkammergutbahn will be modernized gradually through 2033, compared to 2030 previously.
Other delays are related to project developments and longer approval procedures.
This is the case for the Ebenfurth Loop project, postponed to 2032 instead of 2028; the expansion to four tracks on the Meidling–Mödling line, with commissioning in 2037 instead of 2035; and the route improvement in the Pass Lueg area, postponed to 2039 instead of 2037.
Between Meidling and Liesing, four-track operation is expected to be possible starting in 2033.
Accelerated Projects
The reassessment of the master plan has also led to the acceleration of certain projects.
The government notes that the extension of the Nordbahn between Vienna Süßenbrunn and the state border at Bernhardstal will be completed significantly earlier than originally planned, in 2034.
The new Puchbergbahn will also be put into service 6 years earlier than originally planned, thanks to faster approval and permitting procedures.
Another project benefiting from reprioritization is the modernization of the existing Attnang-Puchheim – Salzburg Hauptbahnhof line, where optimized planning and implementation should enable faster completion.
Investments in Mobility and the Climate Transition
Through its 2027–2032 framework plan, ÖBB affirms that it remains committed to actively contributing to Austria’s mobility transition and climate goals.
These investments are presented as essential not only for passengers and the Austrian economy, but also for creating the conditions under which more people and more goods can travel by rail with lower emissions.
The new plan combines investments in major infrastructure projects, the modernization of the existing network, safety, digitalization, renewable energy, and improved services at train stations, as Austria seeks to maintain a high pace of investment while applying stricter criteria for selecting priority projects.
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