Green light for the “Koralmbahn”: Top speeds on Austria’s new high-performance line

19 November 2025 |

On December 14, 2025, the “Koralmbahn” between Graz and Klagenfurt will start full operation as a section of the new Southern Line. voestalpine Railway Systems, the world market leader for complete rail infrastructure systems based in Donawitz, Styria, equipped the entire line, including the tunnel, with around 290 kilometers of ultra-long premium rails and 235 high-tech turnouts, as well as locking and monitoring technologies. At its heart lies the 33-kilometer Koralm Tunnel—the longest railroad tunnel in Austria, and the sixth longest in the world.

The Austrian Federal Railways (OEBB) once again relied on the know-how of voestalpine Railway Systems to make this visionary project a reality.

The commissioning of the “Koralmbahn” is not only an important milestone for travelers and commuters in southern Austria, but also creates significant opportunities for the region’s economy. We are proud to have made a significant contribution to the successful implementation of one of Europe’s most important infrastructure projects with our innovative track and turnout systems as well as signaling solutions.

Herbert Eibensteiner, CEO of voestalpine AG

Ultra-long rails and smart turnouts “made in Austria”

The 120-meter-long rails, which are designed for speeds of up to 250 km/h, were produced in the ultra-modern rail rolling mill in Donawitz and transported just-in-time to the installation site. Thanks to continuous further development, they offer outstanding track performance, a longer service life, and lower maintenance costs. The innovative turnout systems, along with the digital technology for monitoring them, are also developed and produced in Styria, at the Zeltweg location. Some of the turnouts were also manufactured at the Weichenwerk Woerth in Lower Austria, a joint venture between voestalpine Railway Systems and OEBB.

Digital solutions for safety and efficiency in rail transport

Thanks to intelligent monitoring systems from voestalpine Railway Systems, the condition of the infrastructure is permanently monitored. The fully digitalized monitoring systems not only ensure that the highest safety standards are upheld, they also facilitate condition-based and predictive maintenance.

OEBB is not only a long-standing customer of ours, but also a valuable development partner—especially when it comes to the consistent digitalization of rail infrastructure. A current example of this is the pilot deployment of our innovative monitoring system on the “Koralmbahn”, which began in the middle of this year. This opens up new perspectives in digital track condition monitoring. The test operation underlines OEBB’s willingness to test and further develop new technologies with us from an early stage.

Franz Kainersdorfer, Member of the Management Board of voestalpine AG and Head of the Metal Engineering Division

Important partner for global infrastructure projects

It is not only in Austria that railroad operators rely on voestalpine Railway Systems’ complete range of products and services: Customers include major railway companies worldwide as well as freight rail operators—from Europe and the Middle East to North America. The Group has also already equipped the world’s longest railroad tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland, with rails and turnout systems. In the business year 2024/25, voestalpine Railway Systems generated revenue of EUR 2.2 billion with around 8,400 employees—1,300 of them in Austria.