Construction works for the brand-new Koralmbahn started in 2001, and now, more than 20 years later, the railway is getting closer and closer to being operational. For freight, the ports of Venice, Trieste and Koper will be more accessible once traffic kicks off. The building phase is over, so there are only some last hurdles to clear before we reach that point in December 2025.
The line’s construction was completed earlier in the month, with its primary feature being the 33-kilometre Koralm Tunnel. In total, the railway has 50 kilometres of tunnels, more than a hundred bridges and 23 stations and stops. It is a part of the Adriatic – Baltic TEN-T corridor, connecting the Austrian cities of Klagenfurt and Graz and thus shortening travelling times in the region significantly: from over two hours to a mere 45 minutes between the towns.
The main gain for freight is that the ports of Venice and Trieste in Italy, as well as the port of Koper in Slovenia, will be more easily accessible by rail and boost the modality’s competitiveness in that way.
Practice before the real deal
With the construction phase out of the way, the time has come for tests, measurements, drills, trials and training of personnel. Reportedly, there will be more than 70 test drives amounting to approximately 15,000 kilometres of covered distance.The railway is scheduled to be fully operational by December 2025.
“The Koralmbahn will create a new living and economic area that will change Styria and Carinthia in a sustainable and positive way. Everyone in the region will benefit. As part of the new southern route, the Koralmbahn strengthens the Baltic – Adriatic corridor in Europe – and especially the Deutschlandsberg district”, an Austrian official commented on the line’s completed construction.
