Interview with krone.tv

What’s next for the Westbahn line

(Bild: krone.at)

The Western Railway line, Austria's important transport axis between Salzburg and Vienna, has been severely damaged by storms. The Vienna-St. Pölten section is particularly affected, with damage running into millions. In an interview with krone.tv, ÖBB board member Judith Engel explains the status of repairs and future protective measures.

The extreme storms of recent months have caused extensive flooding of tunnels, stations and tracks. After ÖBB had pumped out the water, the extent of the damage became apparent: electronics, signaling technology and safety systems, including 160 remote-controlled points and numerous important control systems, were severely damaged. 

"In some places, we had twice as much rainfall as the heaviest rainfall ever recorded."

Judith Engel

Prepared for the future
ÖBB is planning comprehensive measures for the future to protect the Westbahn line against extreme weather conditions. For example, investigations are currently underway into how the electronics in the more than 250 tunnels can be better protected against mud and water. New protective measures against flooding are also to be integrated in order to provide more sustainable protection for endangered routes and tunnels throughout Austria.

Judith Engel, Head of ÖBB Infrastructure

(Bild: krone.at)

In response to the criticism that the Westbahn route was built through a flood risk area, Judith Engel points out that the planning in the 1990s had already included the scenario of a 100-year flood. At that time, the route was built following a comprehensive consensus - with the involvement of political representatives, citizens and stakeholders, who jointly decided on a route through the Tullnerfeld. Nevertheless, Engel continued, ÖBB would take the current events as an opportunity to strengthen flood protection along the route and make adjustments to the current flood data.

What's next on the Westbahn line
Until the timetable change on December 15, work willcontinueat full speed to make the line fully accessible again. In order to achieve this, ÖBB is relying on traffic-safe temporary solutions that will provide an interim solution until the necessary spare parts have been delivered and installed. The final renovation of the damaged parts is planned for May and June 2025, for which a temporary closure of the line will be unavoidable.