Funding secures Pinzgau railway rebuild

Rebuilding can begin next year on the flood-damaged section of the Pinzgau narrow-gauge railway between Mittersill and Hollersbach, Salzburg broadcaster ORF reports, citing outgoing deputy governor Stefan Schnöll.

The plan follows Agriculture and Environment Minister Norbert Toschnigg’s announcement on Friday that about 15 million euros would be made available for flood protection in the Oberpinzgau region. Schnöll said the funding was also crucial to rebuilding the entire Pinzgau Local Railway as far as Krimml, at the western end of the Salzach Valley.

A new monitoring station in the Habachtal valley near Bramberg is intended to give settlements in the Oberpinzgau earlier warning of possible flooding. It will use a sediment gauge, laser measurements and drone flights to monitor debris flows.