ARF - New Railway Lines and Electrification of Regions (Koralmbahn)

Within the framework of the NextGenerationEU Recovery and Resilience Facility, an approximately 130 km long electrified high-performance rail line is being constructed between the state capitals Graz and Klagenfurt in Carinthia and Styria, and existing regional lines in Carinthia are being modernized. The objective of this measure is not only continuous electrification but also integration into the Graz-Köflach Railway network as well as equipping with modern ETCS signaling technology standards. With a total volume of €1.3657 billion, the federal government is investing in sustainable transport infrastructure until the end of 2026; of this, €542.6 million (funding rate 40%) is provided from the EU facility. The project strengthens both passenger and freight transport through shorter travel times and increased capacities and contributes to the reduction of CO₂ emissions. The measure is expected to be implemented in three phases: start of construction at Lavanttal station (Q1/2020), commissioning of electrification in Carinthia including ETCS (Q4/2023), and full commissioning of the Koralm Railway with tunnel (Q4/2025).

The ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG, as a public infrastructure operator, is eligible for funding; indirectly, all railway undertakings, public transport users, as well as the freight transport and logistics sectors benefit. Eligible expenses include construction and planning costs, ETCS equipment, and electrification measures. The project duration spans 84 months, applications can be submitted until 31.12.2026, and the project started on 01.02.2020. Through consistent implementation of milestones, rapid completion is ensured and the rail connection in the regions is expanded in a future-proof manner.