Price increase

Linz light rail costs almost €1 billion

The ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a regional light rail system is scheduled for 2027 at the earliest. Provincial Councillor Steinkellner (left) and Governor Stelzer show what the railroad trains will look like.(Bild: ÖVP/Antonio Bayer)

The costs for the planned regional light rail in Linz seem to be getting out of hand even before the official start of construction and are now almost one billion euros. Irrespective of this, the Council of Ministers is to decide on the financial contribution on Wednesday.

The costs for the planned regional light rail system in Linz seem to be getting out of hand even before the official start of construction: While there was still talk of total costs of EUR 667 million during the planning phase and up to the end of 2023, the state of Upper Austria is currently already talking about a cost framework that is approaching the billion euro mark.

Specifically, the public transport project, which will primarily benefit commuters from Linz and the Mühlviertel region, is estimated to cost EUR 939 million. The state justifies the higher costs with a new price basis and risk factors taken into account.

Examination in the Council of Ministers postponed

Irrespective of this, the final theoretical hurdle for the mega-project is to be cleared at the Council of Ministers in Vienna on Wednesday. Governor Thomas Stelzer (ÖVP) says: "This means we are right on schedule and all the necessary decisions can be made before the summer."

Transport Minister Günther Steinkellner (FPÖ) expects the ground-breaking ceremony to take place in 2027 at the earliest. The costs will be shared by the federal government (50%), the state (42.5%) and the city of Linz (7.5%) - with the city paying a maximum of EUR 50 million.