High-speed rail in Austria

This new infrastructure should enable to substantially increase the number of regional trains on the existing tracks and cut travel times for long distance connections by using the new tunnels.

[5] The first part of the New Lower Inn Valley Railway was opened in December 2012 as part of an upgrade of the line connecting the future Brenner Base Tunnel and southern Germany, which is being upgraded from two tracks to four and to a maximum design speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).

It includes a new 33 km (21 mi) tunnel (the Koralmtunnel) connecting the cities of Klagenfurt and Graz.

Primarily built for intermodal freight transport, it will also be used by passenger trains travelling at up to 250 km/h (155 mph).

The new tunnel connects the states of Lower Austria and Styria and allows massive travel time reductions compared to the existing Semmering railway.