A main obstacle in its construction was getting over the Semmering Pass over the Northern Limestone Alps.

The twin-track, electrified section that runs through the current territory of Austria is owned and operated by Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) and is one of the major lines in the country.

The railway is currently being upgraded with the Semmering Base Tunnel scheduled to be opened in 2030 as well as the new Koralm Railway branch-off to Klagenfurt, Carinthia scheduled to fully open in 2025, in total cutting travel time between Graz and Klagenfurt to 45 minutes from 3 hours and travel time between Vienna and Klagenfurt down to 2 hours and 40 minutes.

The section Meidling-Mödling is being upgraded to quadruple-track railway to facilitate more trains.

There are ÖBB Railjet high-speed trains operating between Vienna and Graz.