The European Investment Bank (EIB) is proposing EUR 540 million in financing for the tram-train project in Linz, with an eligible cost of EUR 1.2 billion. The project, which is making good progress, will transform transport connections in the city and its metropolitan area.
The bank is currently reviewing this project, which concerns the Regional-Stadtbahn Linz, a regional and urban rail system developed around the Austrian city, designed to integrate suburban and urban transport.
The EIB financing will support the modernization and adaptation of 8 km of railway line crossing the city center and its metropolitan area, as well as the purchase of 34 new tram-trains. Twenty of these vehicles will replace existing trains currently operating on the S5 line that are at or beyond the end of their useful life.
The S5 line is part of the suburban and regional train network (S-Bahn) in the Oberösterreich (Upper Austria) region. It is a suburban line connecting Linz with surrounding towns, providing fast and frequent connections between the city and communities in the region.
Regionalstadt-Bahn is being implemented by Schiene OÖ GmbH & Co KG, a subsidiary of Verkehrsholding, which will make the newly purchased tram-trains available to a selected transport operator for the provision of transport services, in return for an appropriate fee.
The infrastructure component of the Linz tram-train project
The new Regionalstadt-Bahn concept involves the modernization of existing lines and the construction of new line sections or lines to integrate the Mühlkreisbahn suburban line with the city of Linz. A completely new line to S7 in the direction of Auhof will also be built, which will be equipped with signaling systems compatible with both urban tram and regional rail standards, enabling the safe operation of tram-trains.
The project also involves the construction of new stations that will be integrated with the existing ones, which will be modernized, and transport hubs such as Linz-Urfahr or Europaplatz will be created to facilitate direct access without changing trains and to provide accessible and modern infrastructure for bicycles and people with reduced mobility.
The concept of creating a mixed tram-train system was presented by the Linz authorities in 2016 with the aim of revolutionizing urban transport in Linz and its metropolitan area. As part of the project, the rail infrastructure built under the project will be managed by Schiene OÖ GmbH & Co KG, which in July was awarded the concession to build and operate a tram line from Linz Central Station to Linz-Urfahr Station, including four stations and the Urfahr-Ost public transport hub. The concession for the urban route from Linz Central Station to Mühlkreisbahnhof was thus the first essential step for the Linz tram-train project; applications for concessions for the other sections of the line will follow.
“The Regional-Stadtbahn Linz will also be an important additional alternative to stimulate the transfer of individual motorized traffic to public rail transport. Interest in this project is now officially confirmed by the award of the concession,” said Regional Councilor for Mobility and Infrastructure, Günther Steinkellner.
In 2024, an agreement was approved between the federal government and the Province of Upper Austria on the financing of the planning and construction of the Regional-Stadtbahn Linz system, covering planning and construction costs of approximately EUR 939 million.
Features of the tram-train vehicles
The new Linz Regional-Stadtbahn will be operated with state-of-the-art tram-train vehicles that can travel at speeds of 100 km/h, offering high passenger comfort and full accessibility for people with reduced mobility. The vehicles will have a capacity of 22 passengers, including 94 seated and 134 standing, with 2 wheelchair spaces. The new trains will be equipped with modern safety systems for operation on ÖBB and regional lines. They will have LED signaling and lighting both inside and outside and will also be equipped with video cameras for interior and exterior surveillance. A unique feature of the rolling stock in Linz is that the new tram-trains will also have an emergency battery-powered mode for workshops and minor malfunctions.
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