From the port to high-tech steel

Functioning international supply chains are essential for industrial value creation, security of supply and the competitiveness of Europe as a business location. At the same time, cross-border freight logistics are becoming increasingly challenging: numerous construction sites, line closures and capacity constraints – for example, due to extreme heatwaves or international route diversions – are affecting supply chains that must operate reliably every day. The ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG), voestalpine and the freight transport subsidiary of Slovenian Railways, SŽ-Tovorni promet, demonstrate how this challenge can be overcome in practice, using the example of raw material transports from the Port of Koper to voestalpine sites in Austria. 

More than three million tonnes of raw materials per year

In 2025, 3.1 million tonnes were transported via the Slovenian Adriatic port of Koper to the voestalpine sites in Linz and Donawitz. In total, the ÖBB Rail Cargo Group transports around 8.5 million tonnes of raw materials for voestalpine each year – making the route via Koper one of the key elements of the raw materials supply chain. The transport of iron ore, metallurgical coal and hot briquetted iron (HBI) is handled by the ÖBB Rail Cargo Group in collaboration with SŽ – Tovorni promet. “Secure supply chains are built along the entire global logistics chain – from the port to the plant and across national borders. With our transport operations from Koper to the voestalpine sites, we demonstrate how environmentally friendly, international railway logistics – even in challenging times – safeguards industrial value creation,” emphasises Christoph Grasl, Board Member of the ÖBB Rail Cargo Group.

Construction sites are putting pressure on international supply chains

Along the railway lines from Koper to Austria, there are currently several construction projects taking place simultaneously, which are slowing down railway freight transport. Restrictions are in place, amongst others, on the Koper–Divača, Brezovica–Preseje and Borovnica–Verd routes, as well as between Ljubljana and Jesenice. The Jesenice border station is also undergoing extensive modernisation. Whilst these investments are necessary to improve the long-term efficiency of the infrastructure, they pose considerable short-term challenges for the planning of international supply chains. 

Stable flows of raw materials for steel production 

For voestalpine, a continuous supply of materials is a key prerequisite for stable production. The steel sites in Linz and Donawitz require around 40,000 tonnes of raw materials daily. Large quantities must be reliably transported over long distances to the plants, and finished products must be transported to other customers in a similarly predictable manner. Rail plays a central role in this. 
“The mere fact that we supply our sites in Linz and Donawitz with more than 15 million tonnes of raw materials per year demonstrates just how vital efficient logistics are for voestalpine. With our greentec steel transformation program, we will be taking the next major steps towards decarbonizing steel production from 2027 onwards. This transformation will also reshape our supply chains and further increase the demands placed on the transport of raw materials. A competitive European industry therefore needs resilient supply chains and strong partners throughout the entire value chain who can ensure reliable cross-border rail freight transport,” says Hubert Zajicek, member of the Executive Board of voestalpine AG and Head of the Steel Division. 

Cross-border cooperation creates flexibility 

To ensure that voestalpine’s transport operations continue reliably even during extensive construction work and track closures, RCG and SŽ are coordinating closely on capacities, the deployment of rolling stock and staff, and alternative routes. One example of this is the current modernisation of the Jesenice border station, which is due to be completed by September 2027. During the works, fewer tracks will be available there and trains will have to be processed much more quickly. RCG and SŽ are therefore, amongst other measures, deploying interoperable locomotives that can be used across borders. This reduces the time trains spend at Jesenice from around two hours to a maximum of 30 minutes. Alternative routes, for example via the Spielfeld-Straß border station, have also been devised for longer periods of track closure. 
“It is precisely in challenging times that European railways must work even more closely together. That is what we have done together with the ÖBB Rail Cargo Group: through early coordination, flexible solutions and close operational cooperation, we have been able to reliably ensure supplies to voestalpine despite numerous construction sites and restrictions along the route. Such cooperation would not be possible without trust between partners, both on a personal level, and based on long-term cooperation,” says Ernest Gortan, CEO of SŽ–Tovorni promet.

European supply chains need European solutions

The example of transport from the Slovenian port of Koper to Austria illustrates this point: whilst international supply chains operate across borders, infrastructure planning and operational frameworks are still largely organised at national level. Construction work or capacity restrictions in one country therefore have a direct impact on the flow of goods and industrial companies in other countries. 
The ÖBB Rail Cargo Group is therefore committed to more coordinated European infrastructure planning, harmonised standards, simplified border procedures and consistent digitalisation. This creates greater planning certainty for businesses, strengthens security of supply and makes railway freight transport more efficient overall. At the same time, it is an essential prerequisite for ensuring that Europe’s industry remains competitive and that the flow of goods operates sustainably and reliably. 
“Running a train through Europe must be as easy as operating a truck – with harmonised processes, interoperable infrastructure, digital standards, fewer administrative hurdles and fair framework conditions for rail. As the sustainable logistical backbone of the economy, we remain fully committed to this,” emphasises RCG Board Member Christoph Grasl.

03.09.2026