Styrian Eastern Railway upgrade enters next stage

The upgrade of the Styrian Eastern Railway between Graz and the Hungarian border is moving into its next stage, ORF reports. Trains between Graz Central Station and Gleisdorf are scheduled to resume from next Monday, but only until 3 p.m. Rail replacement services will operate after that.

The old railway bridge over Grazer Herrgottwiesgasse, built in 1948, has been removed and its replacement is taking shape. Work has also included renewing and repairing railway crossings near Liebenauer Hauptstraße, as well as preparatory work for electrification between Graz East Station and Autal. Overhead line equipment is being installed between Graz East Station and Messendorf, with foundation work continuing towards Autal.

The roughly 80-kilometre line between Graz and the Hungarian border is due to be fully electrified and modernised by 2030. The next major challenge will be the Laßnitz Tunnel, the only tunnel on the route, which will also be modernised and widened. A further closure of the line is expected to be necessary from autumn 2027.

Once the work is complete, trains will be able to travel at up to 160 kilometres per hour on some sections. Services between Graz and Gleisdorf are expected to run every 20 minutes during peak periods, with 30-minute intervals between Graz and Fehring. Electrification is also expected to save 5.6 million litres of diesel and 11,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, while enabling direct train services from Graz to Budapest.