Westbahn backs rail stop at Graz Airport

Westbahn says a rail stop at Graz Airport has strong potential, as ÖBB plans to begin an Interregio connection there on Dec. 13. ORF reported that the service would run at the beginning and end of the day.

The possibility of a station at the airport has been discussed since construction of the Koralmbahn railway. Westbahn says its trains from Carinthia could leave the Koralmbahn shortly before Graz, join the old Südbahn railway and continue to the airport.

Westbahn managing director Thomas Posch said a direct connection would benefit passengers and the region. The company approached ÖBB-Infrastruktur about the proposal a year ago, but the railway infrastructure body rejected a link from the Koralmbahn at Werndorf, citing a lack of capacity and already heavy traffic on the line.

Asked whether Carinthia would support rail connections from Klagenfurt to Graz Airport, Carinthia’s mobility official Sebastian Schuschnig (ÖVP) said the matter fell under the responsibility of his Styrian counterparts. He said he wanted to strengthen Klagenfurt Airport by improving its public transport links.