Revolutionary high-speed railway about to start - Successful tests on the Koralmbahn

Over the past few weeks, a thorough series of tests covering every detail has been conducted on the new high-speed railway line between Graz and Klagenfurt, according to the ÖBB website. According to the Austrian state railway company, this marks the successful completion of the test phase on the Koralm railway line.

The experts tested the line with different locomotives, special measuring wagons and Railjets at 250 km/h and collected important information. The newly built line will allow the Graz-Klagenfurt distance to be covered in less than 45 minutes in the future.

Most recently, at the end of April, we reported on Austrian railway news when we presented the progress of one of Austria's largest railway electrification projects. The Styrian Western Railway Line will be connected to the Koralmbahn from December, significantly improving accessibility in the region.

Precise technique and meticulous planning

The end of the tests marks the end of the daily cut-offs in Carinthia and Styria. Behind the extensive tests was a highly qualified team of experts. They included experts from ÖBB in the fields of telecommunications, signalling and track operation. Their work was supported by experts from the operations control centre, timetable planning, experienced train drivers and external partners involved in process planning and the European Train Control System (ETCS), they said.

The different vehicles involved in the tests were equipped with highly sensitive sensors to accurately record and measure the vibrations, power supply and signal strength. First, the superstructure - the tracks - was tested at a speed of 160 km/h. Then the overhead contact line, GSM-R and ETCS were tested at continuously increasing speeds. All systems were tested in stages, with the maximum speed of Railjet, which travels at 230 km/h in normal mode, being exceeded by 10% to enable 250 km/h.

This ensures that the journey between Graz and Klagenfurt main stations will always take 45 minutes. Up to now, the rail journey time was nearly 3 hours. By car the journey time is about 90 minutes.

The next steps

The final regulatory approval process for the new line is still ongoing, with freight traffic expected to start in October. The new integrated passenger timetable will be finalised in the summer and published in September, with passenger services expected to start in mid-December.

From August, comprehensive training will be provided for ÖBB drivers and technicians who will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the track in the future. In addition, in the coming months, until commissioning, further important safety exercises will be carried out in cooperation with the police and fire brigades of the two provinces.

Coralmbahn

The 130-kilometre-long railway line connects the capitals of the federal provinces of Styria and Carinthia. One of Europe's most important infrastructure projects, it is part of the core trans-European transport network (Baltic-Adriatic corridor). The line will be 50 kilometres long, with more than 100 bridges and 23 modern stations and stops. Its centrepiece, the Koralm Tunnel, is the sixth longest railway tunnel in the world at 33 kilometres.

Construction of the railway line started in 1998. The first sections were put into service in 2007. The construction of the Koralm tunnel started in 2008. The final breakthrough of the tunnel took place in 2020. In 2023, the Carinthian section of the line was put into operation.