Reach Austria from Budapest faster than ever before

In Austria, a 15-year strategy aimed at expanding the rail network has been presented, with the primary objective of reducing journey times to the benefit of both Hungarians and residents of Hungary.

The draft “Target Network 2040” includes 67 projects with a total cost of around EUR 26 billion, according to Andreas Matthä, CEO of Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB).

ÖBB’s main goal is to drastically cut down travel time. One of the projects, for instance, would be to extend the Innkreisbahn in Upper Austria, potentially enabling a journey from Vienna to Munich in a mere two and a half hours.

Another important aspect of the strategy involves enhancing the integration of Vienna Airport within the transportation infrastructure. This enhancement could pave the way for a Vienna to Budapest connection in under two hours.

Beyond Hungary, ÖBB is fostering connectivity with neighbouring nations. Efforts such as the proposed Graz to Maribor link in Slovenia, promising a swift 45-minute journey, underscore this ambition. Moreover, closer ties with Croatia are also on the agenda.

Furthermore, freight transport would also become more competitive by making the rail network suitable for longer and heavier trains. The projects include, for example, the construction of a new Bosruck tunnel on the Pyrhnbahn railway line, which could be adapted to accommodate trains weighing up to 1,600 tonnes, according to tuzismus.com.

However, “Target Network 2040” is not set in stone but serves as a strategic roadmap. Specific plans will be communicated in the framework plans published every six years. Another pivotal objective of the scheme, apart from reducing journey times, is to increase the proportion of public transport in Austria’s passenger transport from 25 to 40 percent by 2040.

Read also:

• Austrian village makes it impossible for Hungarian commuters to pass the border
• Unexpected announcement: M1 Budapest-Vienna motorway will become three-lane!