Koralbahn starts test drives: Styria and Carinthia in the new light!

Koralbahn starts test drives: Styria and Carinthia in the new light!

Groß Sankt Florian, Österreich - The opening of the Koralbahn is closer! With the start of the commissioning phase at the end of November 2024, the century project, which creates a direct connection from Graz to Klagenfurt, is realized. "You have to see if everything that was built works properly," said ÖBB boss Andreas Matthä when presenting the new WESTSTERMARK station. Over 70 test drives are planned to check the tracks, power supply and lighting before the passenger operation starts in mid -December 2025. The entire section of the route comprises 130 kilometers, of which around 50 kilometers in tunnels run, including the impressive 32.9 kilometer long Koralmunnel, which forms the heart of the connection, as wikipedia reports.

test drives and safety precautions

In the first quarter of 2025, the tunnel is connected to the existing ÖBB network. Training drivers prepare intensively for the trips - first in the simulator, then in reality. Rescue workers are also training for various scenarios to ensure the safety of everyone involved. Matthä emphasized: "Safety is our top priority, although we want us to never need it." Initial test drives at speeds of up to 250 km/h have already been carried out successfully, as the eyewitness reports show.

The Koralmahn will shorten the travel time between Graz and Klagenfurt from currently three hours to just 45 minutes and at the same time make freight traffic more efficient. "Traffic axes result in economic growth," said the Carinthian governor Deputy Gaby Schaunig. The construction costs for the entire route amount to a total of around 6.1 billion euros, which makes the Koralbahn not only one of the most modern, but also one of the most expensive rail connections in Austria. The first sections have been in operation since 2010, and from December 2023, regional connections are also available in Carinthia, while complete operation is planned for 2025.