Austria Inaugurates €2.3 Billion Koralmbahn, Slashing Travel Times with World’s Sixth-Longest Rail Tunnel

VIENNA, Austria – Austria has officially launched its landmark Koralmbahn railway, a 130 km high-speed line connecting the cities of Graz and Klagenfurt, in a major ceremony attended by the nation’s top political leaders. The monumental €2.3 billion project, centered around the 33 km Koralmtunnel and completed in December 2025, is set to slash travel times to just 41 minutes and forge a powerful new economic corridor in southern Austria.

In a celebration thirty years in the making, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker, and ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä led the inauguration of the Koralmbahn on December 12. Described as a “project of the century,” the new line was hailed as a transformative step for the country’s infrastructure. “With the launch of the Koralmbahn, we are not only inaugurating a new line, but also writing a new chapter in the history of Austrian railways,” stated ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä. “This project turns distances into opportunities – for people, for the economy, and for an entire region. Today marks the beginning of an era in which southern Austria is closer than ever before.” The sentiment was echoed by the Austrian Chancellor, who called it “a milestone” that “creates a new, high-performance economic area.”

The Koralmbahn is an engineering feat and the largest newly built railway line in Austria in over a century. The 130-kilometer route is designed for speeds of up to 250 km/h and features 100 bridges and 23 modern stations. Its centerpiece is the 33-kilometer Koralmtunnel, now the sixth-longest railway tunnel in the world. In total, the line includes 12 tunnels with a combined length of 50 kilometers, demonstrating the immense challenge of constructing a high-speed route through Austria’s mountainous terrain. The entire line is equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS), allowing for continuous monitoring and control of train operations to ensure maximum safety and efficiency.

The project’s inauguration marks the culmination of a three-decade effort to better connect the regions of Styria and Carinthia. President Van der Bellen placed the achievement in historical context, reflecting on the railway’s role in Europe’s 19th-century industrial revolution. “The railway revolutionized Europe… it created jobs, connected regions, and made travel accessible—a symbol of progress and social advancement,” he said. “With the Koralmbahn, we are continuing this success story – with optimism for a bright future.” The new line is expected to dramatically reshape the socio-economic landscape of southern Austria by fostering closer ties between the major urban centers of Graz and Klagenfurt.

Key Takeaways

• Strategic Connectivity: The line cuts the Graz-Klagenfurt journey from nearly three hours to just 41 minutes, effectively merging two major urban centers into a single commuter-friendly zone.
• Economic Catalyst: The project is designed to create a unified, high-performance economic area in southern Austria, boosting trade, tourism, and access to labor markets and services.
• Engineering Marvel: The centerpiece, the 33 km Koralmtunnel, is the sixth-longest railway tunnel in the world, showcasing Austria’s leadership in complex alpine engineering and modern infrastructure.

Editor’s Analysis

The successful launch of the Koralmbahn is more than a national triumph for Austria; it is a powerful statement on the European stage. While neighboring Germany grapples with systemic issues of underinvestment and declining punctuality in its Deutsche Bahn network, Austria’s state-owned ÖBB has delivered a state-of-the-art, transformative infrastructure project. This achievement underscores a strategic commitment to long-term investment in high-speed, sustainable rail transport as a backbone for economic growth and regional integration. The Koralmbahn serves as a case study in executing complex, generational projects and positions Austria as a leader in European rail innovation, demonstrating that targeted investment can overcome geographical challenges and yield significant socio-economic returns.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main purpose of the Koralmbahn?

Its primary purpose is to provide a high-speed rail link between the Austrian cities of Graz and Klagenfurt, reducing travel time to just 41 minutes and creating a new, integrated economic corridor in southern Austria.

How long is the Koralmtunnel?

The Koralmtunnel, the core component of the Koralmbahn, is 33 kilometers long, making it the sixth-longest railway tunnel in the world.

What was the total cost of the Koralmbahn project?

The project required an investment of approximately €2.3 billion and took three decades from the start of work to its final inauguration.