ÖBB New Construction Line in Flachgau Received Positive EIA Notice

For the planned ÖBB high-performance route in Salzburg's Flachgau, a positive EIA decision is now available. At the same time, the Ministry of Infrastructure has granted the project the railway law approval, the ÖBB informed in a release on Tuesday. This allows the detailed tendering and execution planning to start. From today's perspective, construction could begin at the end of the decade.

Tunnel as the Heart

The major project envisions a 21.5-kilometer new route that branches off from the existing Westbahn track in Salzburg-Kasern and Köstendorf (Flachgau). The centerpiece is a 16.2-kilometer tunnel with two single-track tubes that runs under the municipalities of Köstendorf, Seekirchen, Hallwang, and Elixhausen.

The two additional tracks are intended to create greater capacities in passenger and freight transport. Because long-distance trains can pass through the tunnel unhindered and faster, a denser offer of local trains is possible on the existing route. The construction is also expected to reduce the travel time between Salzburg and Vienna by about five minutes.

Plans Resubmitted

As the ÖBB announced on Tuesday, the land acquisition for the areas necessary for the construction and operation of the route is currently ongoing. At the same time, the nature conservation procedure is underway in the state of Salzburg. Incidentally, the new route has already been submitted for the EIA once before. However, because occurrences of strictly protected animal species were found at the intended landfill site for the excavation material, the ÖBB adapted the plans and resubmitted them at the end of 2023. The removal of the rock is now to be carried out by rail as far as possible.

In May 2025, it was announced that the project would be postponed in the ÖBB framework plan due to budgetary pressure to save. The new route is now expected to be completed in 2044 instead of 2040. The total investment costs for the project were recently estimated at around 3.7 billion euros. The project is being strongly opposed by a citizens' initiative. In the past, opponents of the tunnel feared not only the burdens from the construction site but also a threat to the drinking water supply.

(APA/Red)

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