TRIESTE – Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) will invest €19.5 billion between 2027 and 2032 to develop a more modern, reliable and higher-capacity rail network, with the aim of supporting the growth of passenger and freight traffic through infrastructure upgrades, digitalisation and technological modernisation.
The new 2027-2032 Framework Plan confirms one of Europe’s most substantial railway infrastructure programmes. In addition to the €19.5 billion earmarked for investments, a further €5 billion will be allocated to network maintenance, including inspection, technical assistance, repairs and critical-issue management.
The priorities identified by ÖBB concern the expansion and strengthening of existing infrastructure, the introduction of advanced train control and operational management systems, as well as continued investment in the rail network and railway facilities. The stated objective is to guarantee greater capacity for both passenger and freight transport, while creating the conditions for more efficient and stable management through digitalisation and modernisation.
«Investments of around €3 billion a year represent a clear commitment to expanding the rail network, to Austria as an economic hub and to promoting the mobility transition», said Mobility Minister Peter Hanke, stressing that the plan has been maintained «at a very high level» despite the need to consolidate public finances.
ÖBB chief executive officer Andreas Matthä also pointed out that the group will contribute to spending containment targets without interrupting infrastructure programmes: «Saving does not mean standing still. Every construction project that has been started will be completed and every euro invested will go to the works with the greatest impact on rail traffic».
The plan adopts a corridor-based development approach, coordinating works along the main national routes in order to maximise their effects. According to ÖBB, this approach will improve punctuality, reliability, interconnections and journey times, while at the same time reducing the impact of construction sites on rail operations.
Strategic works confirmed include the Semmering Base Tunnel, scheduled to enter service in 2029, and the renewal of the historic mountain line between Gloggnitz and Mürzzuschlag, which is expected to be completed in 2028. The reconstruction of the northern section of the Wiener Neustadt junction, the modernisation of Vienna’s S-Bahn and the northern access route to the Brenner Base Tunnel, whose completion is scheduled for 2039, are also proceeding according to schedule.
ÖBB notes that 87% of projects already under way are progressing according to the planned timetable. Some works have been rescheduled in order to optimise investments and synergies between projects, in some cases generating significant cost savings. This is the case with the expansion of the Northern Railway, where the new project approach will allow completion to be brought forward by three years and costs to be reduced by around €100 million.
