West Styrian Line electrification set to run through 2033

West Styrian Line electrification is advancing in Austria within the Styrian Western Railway modernization program.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The regional line in Styria links Graz and Köflach, runs through towns across the western part of the province, and supports daily commuting alongside a more limited but still important freight role. The program is scheduled to be completed in 2033.

The project—one of Austria’s major rail investments—centers on electrifying around 91 km, removing level crossings, and upgrading 16 stations. The aim is higher operating speeds and better service quality. After completion, the corridor is expected to offer more efficient connections to Graz Central Station and stronger links to key routes, including the Koralm line due in December 2025, as well as services toward Vienna and Villach.

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What West Styrian Line electrification includes?

At the heart of the West Styrian Line modernization project is the full removal of diesel traction and the move to electric trains. The project’s scope and phased rollout are described on the ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG project page, and ÖBB estimates the switch will cut carbon dioxide emissions by about 16,000 tonnes per year once diesel operations are fully eliminated.

The work is split into two phases. First comes the stretch between the regional stations of Wettmannstätten and Wies-Eibiswald, together with the Graz–Köflacher Bahn sector. The second phase then carries electrification across the remaining western Styria sections, including the Graz metropolitan area and the city’s main station.

Progress so far on the Graz–Köflach railway line

The West Styrian Line modernization project started in 2021. By 2025, the initial section—Wettmannstätten–Wies-Eibiswald—was complete, enabling electric trains to run on the S6 corridor on the Graz–Hengsberg–Wettmannstätten–Wies-Eibiswald route. By the summer of 2025, nearly half of the line had been electrified.

With work on the Lieboch–Wettmannstätten–Wies section nearing completion, ÖBB set out the next steps in January 2026. The next major milestone is electrification of the Lieboch–Köflach section, a branch of the Graz–Wies-Eibiswald line. One of the most complex interventions is widening the Krems tunnel to make room for electrification infrastructure. The package also includes three new bridges, the elimination of level crossings, and the modernization of eight stations, with completion scheduled for the end of 2028, as outlined in Railway Pro’s project overview.

Graz works and S-Bahn transfer concept

In parallel, work on the Graz–Lieboch section is planned in the second phase. Modernization and electrification within Graz are expected to change how rail connects with the city’s wider transport network. The plan includes four underpasses to replace existing level crossings, along with new interconnection points with local public transport. A crossing line is also planned in the area of the current Graz Wetzelsdorf station.

A key element is simplifying transfers between S-Bahn suburban trains and urban services. Under the concept, buses would stop directly in the underpasses beneath the railway platforms, reducing transfer times. The new passages and mobility hubs are expected to improve connections along the Wetzelsdorferstraße, Kärntnerstraße, and Gradnerstraße axes. Work on this section is scheduled to be completed in 2033.

Budget figures have been revised as the program develops. ÖBB said in April 2025 that the initial master plan allocated EUR 543 million. Under the ÖBB investment program for 2025–2030—worth EUR 19.7 billion for rail network modernization—the West Styria Line now has an updated budget of EUR 693 million, intended to complete the project by 2033; ÖBB also reiterated the ongoing modernization work in Styria in a January 2026 ÖBB press release.

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