ÖBB-Infrastruktur has launched the expansion of Wiener Neustadt Central Station which will answer future transport demands and optimise train traffic along the southern corridor.
The EUR 170 million project covers construction of a fourth track of the northern entrance, between the HTL (Technical College) and Pöckgasse, to the station and extensive modernisation of the rail facilities. Under the project, new noise barriers will be installed along with 1.2 kilometres of retaining walls. In addition, four rail bridges will be newly built or adapted, while a road underpass will be completely rebuilt and equipped with a dedicated pedestrian walkway.
In the first phase of the project, a construction pit support system for the retaining walls will be built by October 2025, while the entire project is expected to be completed in 2029.
A ceremony was held to launch the project attended by Judith Engel, board member of ÖBB-Infrastruktur, the Mayor of Wiener Neustadt, Klaus Schneeberger, and the Member of the Lower Austrian Provincial Parliament, Philipp Gerstenmayer.
Wiener Neustadt is a strategically important transport hub located south of Vienna, where six railway lines converge. The city is one of Austria’s most significant timetable nodes, with around 40 trains stopping there per hour during the morning and evening peaks. The expansion of the station area is essential to meet the growing demands of both regional and long-distance rail services.
“With this expansion project, we are taking an important step towards the future of regional and long-distance rail services in the area. Expanding to four tracks will significantly enhance the capacity and flexibility of Wiener Neustadt Central Station, meeting growing demands. This project will not only increase the efficiency of rail operations, but modern noise protection measures will also improve the quality of life for local residents,” Judith Engel said.
Currently, trains entering the central station from the direction of Vienna do so on a three-track section. The addition of a fourth track will increase capacity, enabling more efficient and flexible train movements. The upgrade affects both the Southern Railway (Südbahn) and the Pottendorf Line, the latter of which has recently been fully expanded to two tracks.
In the future, long-distance services will be rerouted via the Pottendorf Line, freeing up capacity on the Southern Railway for more regional trains. The installation of new track switches will also create more options for rerouting trains in the event of disruptions, reducing the operational impact of irregularities.
“The expansion of the central station is an important step in the development of our city. It will improve mobility and accessibility for the people of Wiener Neustadt and the entire region, while also creating new opportunities for local public transport,” the Mayor of Wiener Neustadt said.
The project is “an investment in the stability and reliability of public transport. The addition of the fourth track lays the foundation for a 15-minute interval service for commuters between Vienna and Wiener Neustadt from 2030 onwards, with journey times of around 30 minutes – offering greater comfort and more time for thousands of people,” Philipp Gerstenmayer underlined.
Regarding the Southern Line (Südstrecke), ÖBB- Infrastruktur is currently working on more than 100 large and small projects. A total of 200 km of railway lines are being modernised, with 170 km of new tracks being constructed, including 80 km of new tunnels and 150 new bridges.
Once completed, in 2030, trains will travel from Vienna to Klagenfurt in 2 hours and 40 minutes, and from Graz to Klagenfurt in 45 minutes. Covering 470 km, the trains will pass through numerous new railway stations and through the Semmering and the Koralpe mountains.
The Southern Line project includes the expansion of the North Railway Line, the Vienna – Bratislava upgrade, the new Vienna Central Station, the Vienna South Freight Centre, the expansion of the Pottendorf Line, the construction of the Semmering Base Tunnel, eight modernised stations between Bruck and Graz, the upgraded Graz Central Station, and 130 km of the new Koralmbahn which includes the 33 km Koralm tunnel.
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