Koralm Railway: one million tonnes in 100 days

The ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG) draws a positive conclusion after the first 100 days of freight operations on the Koralm Railway: more than 1,050 freight trains have already run along the new route.

RCG board member Christoph Grasl and Alpacem Austria CEO Bernhard Auer at an industrial rail terminal

Since early November 2025, the Koralm Railway has been in service for freight transport – and the impact is clear. The new line shortens transport routes, creates additional capacity and strengthens Austria’s position as a logistics hub. In its first 100 days of operation, RCG has handled around 1,050 freight trains with more than 21,000 wagons on the new route, transporting over one million tonnes of goods. “Thanks to the additional capacity, we can offer our customers significantly faster connections within southern Austria and towards the Adriatic ports. This strengthens Austria sustainably as a logistics hub in the heart of Europe,” says RCG Board Member Christoph Grasl.

Strong benefits for single wagonloads  

The Koralm Railway enables more direct routings in single wagonload transport, as detours via Knittelfeld, Leoben and Frohnleiten are no longer required. This also benefits long-standing RCG customers such as Alpacem Austria, which has relied on rail-based logistics for many years. RCG transports materials such as granulated blast-furnace slag, clinker, gypsum and ash across Austria and to Italy in single wagonload traffic. “The Koralm Railway enables even more reliable and efficient transport for us and reinforces our commitment to consistently shifting our logistics to rail. At the same time, the new line allows us to carry out transports in a more sustainable way and in line with the green transition. Our close cooperation with ÖBB Rail Cargo Group demonstrates how powerful and climate-friendly rail freight can be today”, says Bernhard Auer, Managing Director of Alpacem Austria.

Efficiency boost along the southern axis 

Together with the existing line over the Neumarkter Saddle, the southern axis now provides four tracks. This increases capacity by up to 30 per cent – a key factor in shifting additional freight to environmentally friendly rail. The full impact of the Koralm Railway will unfold further with the completion of other major infrastructure projects, such as the Semmering Base Tunnel.

13.02.2026