Austrian railway news – Page 4
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NewsMaintenance vehicle converted to fuel cell power
AUSTRIA: An X534 overhead electrification construction and maintenance railcar has been converted from diesel to fuel cell power. Austrian Federal Railways’ technical service unit TrainTech worked with engineering consultancy m.ZERO to integrate fuel cell power modules from Cummins’ zero-emissions business Accelera into the vehicle as part ...
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NewsZillertalbahn hydrogen plan dropped in favour of battery traction
AUSTRIA: Plans to replace diesel traction on the narrow gauge Zillertalbahn with hydrogen have been dropped in favour of battery operation. Decarbonisation is planned as part of the railway’s medium-term investment programme for 2025-30, and could save an estimated 900 000 litres of diesel per year. ...
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NewsStadler to supply inter-city EMUs to GySEV
HUNGARY: Hungarian-Austrian cross-border operator GySEV has signed a contract for Stadler to supply nine inter-city electric multiple-units with an option for four more. The EMUs are intended for use on the Sopron – Győr – Budapest and Szombathely – Győr – Budapest routes and would also ...
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NewsRail freight service launched following Houthi attacks on shipping
EUROPE: Rail freight operator Lineas has collaborated with container handler CSP Zeebrugge to launch a service between the Belgian port and Graz in Austria for COSCO Shipping Lines, which has had to divert vessels away from the Red Sea because of attacks by Houthi rebels. The ...
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Metro Report InternationalConstruction of Wien tram Route 27 begins
AUSTRIA: Wien transport operator Wiener Linien has formally launched construction of tram Route 27, with opening planned for autumn 2025.
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Metro Report InternationalGraz signs ‘milestone’ tram contract
AUSTRIA: Operator Graz Linien formally signed a contract for Alstom to supply and maintain 15 Flexity trams on January 31, when the future styling was unveiled. Alstom had been selected for the contract in May 2023. Production is to be undertaken in Wien from later this ...
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NewsWien S-Bahn ring plans announced
AUSTRIA: The Wien municipality has announced plans to create an S-Bahn ring from 2032 by combining two services and upgrading a freight-only line for passenger use. The orbital service would be formed from the existing S80 and S45 services; S45 trains would be extended from Handelskai ...
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NewsÖBB orders the latest evolution of the Mireo EMU family
AUSTRIA: Austrian Federal Railways has placed a firm order for 70 electric multiple-units based on a development of Siemens Mobility’s established Mireo design. The €800m order announced on January 19 is the first to be placed under a €5bn 10-year framework agreement covering up to 540 ...
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In depthTrack Maintenance: Modular welding offers smoother running
Following service testing with the latest evolution of its proven APT 1500 R flash-butt welding head, Plasser & Theurer is now developing a modular range of carrier vehicles to optimise both design and utilisation.
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In depthResilient Infrastructure: Reducing rail noise with acoustically optimised crossings
The noise generated by trains passing over turnouts can pose problems for railways, particularly in residential areas. Laboratory trials have shown the potential benefits of high-damping polyurethane composites, and a field test is currently underway on the ÖBB network in Austria.
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NewsWestern section of Koralmbahn opens in southern Austria
AUSTRIA: The 53 km western section of the Koralmbahn in southwest Austria opened with the timetable change on December 10.
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In depthTechnology: Innovation must come faster
Wheel-rail interaction and the need to accelerate the pace of innovation were hot topics at the 48th Conference on Modern Rolling Stock held in Graz on September 17-19. Reinhard Christeller reports.
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NewsAustria announces €21bn rail investment plan
AUSTRIA: The federal government has announced a €21·1bn railway infrastructure investment plan for 2024–29, an increase on the previous plans to spend €19bn in 2023-28. This includes the addition of projects worth €1·5bn. ‘With this framework investment plan, we are securing the railway expansion programme in ...
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NewsThree Kiss EMUs ordered for use on Wien airport express
CAT order photo CAT and Stadler AUSTRIA: City Airport Train announced on October 13 the order of three Kiss double-deck electric multiple-units from Stadler for use on the CAT service in Wien. The order is an option on ÖBB’s €3bn framework agreement with Stadler for the ...
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NewsGo-Ahead sells German rail business to ÖBB
GERMANY: Go-Ahead Group has agreed to sell its German rail business to Austrian Federal Railways’ passenger division ÖBB-Personenverkehr, and is looking at options for the future of its Norwegian activities. Managing Director of Go-Ahead Deutschland Fabian Amini said ÖBB ‘has a good reputation in Germany’. The ...
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NewsTrial Ukraine – EU freight train gets semi-trailers off the roads
EUROPE: A trial freight train has carried semi-trailers from Ukraine to Budapest as ÖBB Rail Cargo Group develops plans to launch a regular TransFER intermodal freight connection between Kyiv, the Hungarian capital and Wien in partnership with Ukrainian national railway Ukrzaliznytsia.
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NewsNightjet unveiled as the ‘flagship of European night train traffic‘
AUSTRIA: Austrian Federal Railways has unveiled the first of its next generation of Nightjet fixed-formation loco-hauled trainsets for overnight trains, calling it ‘the new flagship of the European night train traffic’. The unveiling took place in the former Wien Nordwest station on September 30 as part ...
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NewsRCG steps up waste transport by rail
AUSTRIA: Rail Cargo Group reports a significant increase in the amount of waste being moved by rail following the introduction of legislation earlier this year. Amendments to the Waste Management Act (Abfallwirtschaftsgesetz) aimed at climate protection require that waste loads weighing more than 10 tonnes must ...
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NewsReplacement rolling stock components 3D printed
AUSTRIA: Faced with the need to source replacements for obsolete components which are used to reduce vibration and prevent dust and moisture ingress on multiple-units, Austrian Federal Railways’ rolling stock maintenance business ÖBB Train Tech approached Chromatic to discuss the possibility of using 3D printed parts. ...
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NewsÖBB and DB to enhance cross-border passenger train services
EUROPE: Citing a boom in rail traffic between Germany and Austria, ÖBB and DB have announced plans to increase long-distance cross-border services with effect from the December 10 timetable change.