Breakthrough of the tube

“Free travel through the Semmering” from 2030

From the left: Lower Austria's Vice Governor Udo Landbauer, Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner and Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler(Bild: APA/Hans Klaus Techt)

Excavation of the Semmering Base Tunnel has been complete since the end of November 2024. The breakthrough of the two tubes was celebrated on Friday. From 2030, it will be "free travel through the Semmering", said Manuela Waldner from ÖBB, who was standing in for Andreas Matthä, who was ill.

The commissioning will "revolutionize" rail travel on the southern route. The Semmering Tunnel is "truly a milestone", said Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens). The railroad is "essential for climate protection".

Lower Austria's Transport Minister Udo Landbauer (FPÖ) was also "impressed by what has been achieved". From 2030, Vienna and Graz should be connected in under two hours. It will then take another 45 minutes from the Styrian capital to Klagenfurt. "That will no longer be possible by road," said Landbauer on Friday.

From the left: Landbauer, Mikl-Leitner and Gewessler(Bild: APA/Hans Klaus Techt)

Politicians with the construction workers on Friday(Bild: APA/Hans Klaus Techt)

(Bild: APA/Hans Klaus Techt)

Lining with concrete inner shell already underway
According to ÖBB, the breakthrough of the two tubes, each 27.3 kilometers long, was "another major milestone". Gloggnitz in Lower Austria is now connected to Mürzzuschlag in Styria by two underground tubes.

Lining with a concrete inner shell has been underway since 2020. Once this work has been completed, the "railroad tunnel equipment" will follow from summer 2025. Four people lost their lives during the work in 2020 and 2023. They were remembered at the ceremony in Gloggnitz on Friday.

The trains that are due to travel through the tunnel from 2030 will travel at speeds of up to 230 kilometers per hour. The tunnel will cost 4.2 billion euros. The southern line is 470 kilometers long.