Shared order will bring new trains to Murtalbahn
Friday 18th September 2026 on 12:30 in
Austria
The Murtalbahn, Zillertalbahn and Pinzgauer Lokalbahn will jointly order around 19 new trains as they switch from diesel to electric or battery-hybrid operation, ORF reported on Friday. The shared procurement is expected to reduce purchase and maintenance costs.
The federal states of Styria, Tyrol and Salzburg will issue the tender shortly. The Zillertalbahn plans to order six trains, the Pinzgauer Lokalbahn eight and the Murtalbahn five.
The federal government will cover 30 percent of the costs, Transport Minister Peter Hanke said. He described the joint tender as an efficient use of public funds.
The Transport Ministry is also increasing its medium-term investment programme for private railways by 25 million euros from 2027. The total annual budget will rise to around 114 million euros, according to the report.
Styria will invest 169 million euros in its five new trains, state transport councillor Claudia Holzer said. The trains are scheduled to enter service with the timetable change in December 2033.
Detailed planning is due to begin in 2027. On the Murtalbahn, travel between Unzmarkt and Murau is expected to fall from 36 minutes to 24 minutes. The new trains will have air conditioning, toilets and step-free access.
The Murtalbahn runs 76 kilometres from Unzmarkt to Mauterndorf in Salzburg and climbs 390 metres in elevation.