For the first time, an official delegation has crossed the entire Gloggnitz Tunnel—located on the Southern Route of the Semmering Base Tunnel in Austria—by minibus.
This journey marks an important milestone, signaling the completion of the tunnel connecting Gloggnitz in Lower Austria and Mürzzuschlag in Styria, nearly 15 years after construction began. The journey marks an important step toward the commissioning of one of Austria’s largest infrastructure projects. The delegation was led by Minister of Mobility Peter Hanke and ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä. Also on board were National Council President Doris Bures, as well as the transport spokespeople for the parliamentary parties.
Following the progress made in recent years, the schedule for the opening has now been set. The first trains will run through the Semmering Base Tunnel at the end of 2029, and in the future, passengers and freight will travel faster and more efficiently between Lower Austria and Styria—not over the Semmering, but through the mountain.
The completion of the tunnel will provide a major boost to eco-friendly transportation and the Austrian economy, as the project is considered essential for future mobility on the Southern Route (Südstrecke).
“With the Semmering Base Tunnel, a new chapter in Austria’s mobility begins at the end of 2029. Faster connections on the Southern Route are a major advantage for commuters, for the regions, and for all of Austria,” said the Minister of Mobility.
“The Semmering Base Tunnel marks a new historic milestone on our path to making Austria the number one rail country in Europe. More rail traffic means benefits for the environment, the economy, and for all of Austria. Starting at the end of 2029, Vienna and Graz will be connected in about one hour and 50 minutes,” said Andreas Matthä.
Focus on the technical outfitting of the Semmering Base Tunnel
Following the historic milestone at the end of 2024, when the final breakthrough was achieved and all excavation work was completed, work is currently focused primarily on the technical outfitting of the tunnel and on final work on the concrete lining in the Gloggnitz area and in the shafts at the emergency stop in Fröschnitzgraben.
Since the summer of 2025, the focus of the work has shifted entirely to the technical outfitting of the two tunnel tubes. These will be equipped with all the facilities necessary for railway operations, including track infrastructure, cabling, and technical systems.
Due to the tunnel’s enormous size, this work will take over three years, so that the first trains can run through the tunnel by the end of 2029.
The Simmering Base Tunnel will connect Lower Austria and Styria and reduce travel time between Vienna and Graz to less than two hours. The main tunnel section is 27.3 km long, and the total length of the tunnels is 62 km.
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