A 15 km long high-speed tram line will be built in Salzburg, running from Salzburg Central Station to the suburb of Hallein, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Construction of the High-Speed Tram Line
Computer graphics, source: S-LINK

The project, approved by the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation, and Technology of Austria, is named S-LINK.

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The new line will be operated by Salzburg public transport — Salzburg Linien Verkehrsbetriebe, with which a 99-year concession agreement is planned.

The new line will be integrated into the existing Salzburger Lokalbahn (SLB) network, which stretches 38 km and connects Salzburg with the municipality of Lamprechtshausen.

The S-LINK project will be implemented in four phases.

The first phase, already approved by the Salzburg City Council in December 2020, includes the construction of a 1 km long double-track underground section from Salzburg Central Station to Mirabell Palace (Mirabellplatz), located east of the city center.

Preparatory work will begin in 2024, and construction will start in 2025. This phase is expected to be completed by 2028.

The subsequent phases will explore route options and stop locations.

The final completion of the entire line is not expected before 2034.

The cost of the S-LINK project ranges between 1.98–2.84 billion euros, depending on the chosen route.

The Austrian federal government has committed to covering half of the capital costs.

The S-LINK project aims to reduce the burden on Salzburg’s public transport system, especially during peak hours.

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Approximately 60,000 people commute to Salzburg daily for work and study, and the city is visited by around 9 million tourists annually.

The construction of the new high-speed tram line will improve the city’s transport infrastructure and make it even more attractive for residents and visitors.

The implementation of the S-LINK project is also significant for the environment, as it will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by decreasing car usage.

The new tram will operate on environmentally friendly energy, aligning with Austria’s climate action strategy.

Thus, the S-LINK project is an important step for the development of Salzburg, the improvement of its transport system, and environmental protection.

This ambitious initiative will require significant investment and effort, but its successful completion will bring enormous benefits to both the city’s residents and its guests.

Computer graphics, source: S-LINK.

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