Before passenger trains begin running in December, freight services have already started operating on the new Koralm Railway. From early November, the ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG) is using the line between Carinthia and Styria, marking a historic moment for Austrian rail freight — and a return to the railway’s roots, as the first trains 200 years ago were used for goods transport.
The 130-kilometre Koralm Railway offers up to 30% more capacity for freight on Austria’s Southern Line and will make transport faster, more efficient, and more climate-friendly. By providing a flatter and shorter route between Villach and Graz, trains no longer need to detour via Knittelfeld, Leoben and Frohnleiten, cutting travel times and energy use.
“The start of freight operations on the Koralm Railway marks a new chapter for rail freight in Austria,” said Clemens Först, CEO of the ÖBB Rail Cargo Group. “Thanks to the new line, we can offer our customers shorter transport times and more capacity for climate-friendly logistics.”
The reduced gradients on the new line — 10‰ compared to 16‰ on the old route — allow trains to carry an additional 250 to 280 tonnes per service, while consuming less energy. In total, the improved efficiency is expected to save up to 300,000 train kilometres per year.
Omya among the first customers to use the line
On Tuesday, 4 November, an individual wagonload train operated by the ÖBB Rail Cargo Group became one of the first to traverse the new route. The wagons, assembled at the Villach Süd marshalling yard, were sent north to Graz before being redistributed to their destinations.
Omya, a long-standing RCG customer, is among the first companies to use the new corridor. The global producer of mineral fillers for paper manufacturing has committed to increasing its use of rail to make its supply chain more sustainable.
“The new line allows us to carry out transports even more sustainably and resource-efficiently,” Omya said. “In this way, we contribute further to reducing CO₂ emissions and strengthening rail freight transport.”
Strengthening Austria’s role as a European logistics hub
The Koralm Railway forms part of the Baltic–Adriatic Corridor, one of Europe’s most important north–south freight routes. By linking the Baltic Sea with the Adriatic, it connects key economic regions and strengthens Austria’s position as a central logistics hub in Europe.
Once fully integrated with other major projects — including the Semmering Base Tunnel — the corridor will deliver even greater benefits for European freight and passenger traffic.
30% more freight capacity on the Southern Line
Together with the existing line via the Neumarkt Saddle, the Koralm route creates a four-track Southern Axis, increasing freight capacity by around 30%. This expansion supports low-emission transport growth, as every kilometre moved by rail instead of road saves both energy and CO₂ emissions.
With these enhancements, ÖBB continues to strengthen its role as the backbone of sustainable logistics in Europe.
Passenger services to follow in December
The Koralm Railway is one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects:
- 130 km of new track
- 50 km of tunnels
- Over 100 bridges
- 23 new stations and stops
At its core lies the 33 km Koralm Tunnel, one of the longest railway tunnels in the world, connecting Graz and Klagenfurt.
Following the start of freight services, passenger operations will begin on 14 December 2025, coinciding with the international timetable change. The new route will significantly shorten travel times between West Styria and Southern Carinthia, with Railjet Xpress trains cutting the Graz–Klagenfurt journey from over two hours to just 41 minutes.
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