The modernization and electrification of the Styrian Western Railway is currently underway in Austria, with the project scheduled for completion in 2033.
This regional railway line, located in the province of Styria, connects Graz and Köflach, passing through numerous towns in the western part of the region. Due to its strategic role, the line is essential for regional passenger transport and, to a certain extent, for freight traffic, serving commuters and local communities in western Styria on a daily basis.
The modernization and electrification program is one of the most important railway projects in Austria, aiming to electrify approximately 91 km of line, eliminate level crossings, and modernize 16 stations. These interventions will increase train speeds and significantly improve the quality of rail services. Once the work is complete, the line will benefit from more efficient connections to Graz Central Station, the Koralm line – a major project due for completion in December 2025 – and the Vienna and Villach directions.
The electrification of the line, one of the largest projects of its kind in Austria, will lead to the complete elimination of diesel traction and the introduction of electric trains. This transition will have a significant impact on the environment, with an estimated annual reduction of approximately 16,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
The implementation of electrification is structured in two phases. The first phase covers the section between the regional stations of Wettmannstätten and Wies-Eibiswald, as well as the Graz–Köflacher Bahn sector. In the second phase, the Austrian railway company ÖBB will electrify the rest of the line in western Styria, including the Graz metropolitan area and the city’s main station.
The project to modernize the West Styrian Line was launched in 2021, and the first section, Wettmannstätten–Wies-Eibiswald, was completed in 2025, allowing electric trains to run on the S6 corridor on the Graz–Hengsberg–Wettmannstätten–Wies-Eibiswald route. By the summer of 2025, almost half of the line had been electrified.
Next steps in the electrification of the West Styrian Line
Work on the Lieboch–Wettmannstätten–Wies section is nearing completion, and in January 2026, ÖBB presented the next stages of the West Styrian Line modernization project. The next major milestone is the electrification of the Lieboch–Köflach section, a branch of the Graz–Wies-Eibiswald line. One of the most complex technical interventions on this section is the adaptation of the Krems tunnel, which must be widened to allow for the installation of the electrification infrastructure. The project also includes the construction of three new bridges, the elimination of level crossings, and the modernization of eight stations. This section is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028.
At the same time, work on the Graz–Lieboch section is planned as part of the second phase of the project. The modernization and electrification of the line within the city of Graz will bring about significant changes in the integration of rail transport with the urban network. Four underpasses are planned to replace the current level crossings, as well as new interconnection points with local public transport. A crossing line will also be built in the area of the current Graz Wetzelsdorf station.
A key element of this concept is to facilitate transfers between S-Bahn suburban trains and urban transport: buses will stop directly in the underpasses, beneath the railway platforms, significantly reducing transfer times. The new passages and mobility hubs will considerably improve connections along the Wetzelsdorferstraße, Kärntnerstraße, and Gradnerstraße axes. Completion of work on this section is scheduled for 2033.
According to information provided by ÖBB in April 2025, the initial master plan allocated EUR 543 million to the project. Under the ÖBB investment program for 2025–2030, which plans a total of 19.7 billion EUR for the modernization of the rail network, the West Styria Line has an updated budget of 693 million EUR, which is intended to complete the work by 2033.
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