Austria has achieved two major transformations to its rail transport network, with a time-saving, new high-speed rail link between Vienna and Trieste and the inauguration of a mountain tunnel that sees the opening of the 130-kilometre-long Koralm Railway, connecting Graz and Klagenfurt.
Since mid-December 2025, the national rail operator ÖBB has been running daily services between the Austrian capital and northern Italy, on a six-hour and 38-minute route that has shaved nearly three hours from the former journey time. The early morning 6:53 am departure from Vienna pulls into Trieste at 1:31 pm, after stops in Graz, Klagenfurt, Villach, Udine, and Grado. Passengers can also extend their journey to Venice, reaching the historic lagoon city in around seven hours, saving half an hour.
As well as reaching major tourist destinations, the line is being described as a game-changer for regional mobility, reducing travel times between Graz and Klagenfurt to only 41 minutes and offering half-hourly services between Vienna and Graz. Experts expect the advent of speedy regional connections to provide an economic boost for the south of Austria and the north of Italy.
The development of the Koralm Railway has cost €6.1 billion and decades of effort. Since ground broke on the project in 2002, 23 stations, over 100 bridges and 50km of tunnelling have been completed, including the 33-kilometre Koralm Tunnel. The high-speed route supports travel at 250 km/h and is fully electric.
Over 10,000 people boarded the route within the first hours of operation on 14 December – passenger numbers that ÖBB is taking as confirmation of the appetite for the new service. Andreas Matthä, CEO of ÖBB, called the launch “a historic milestone. We are experiencing enormous interest in the new line, which will help shape the future of rail travel in Austria.”
The operator has also hailed the new routes as a symbol of cooperation and closeness between Austria and Italy. Kurt Bauer, head of ÖBB long-distance passenger services, said: “With the new timetable starting December 14, the opening of the Koralm Railway marks the beginning of a new era in rail travel. We are not only increasing the number of services on the rail network, but also significantly reducing travel times: Trieste can be reached from Vienna in just 6 hours and 38 minutes, bringing Italy and Austria even closer together.”
Hailing the environmental benefits of rail, Bauer added: “I am very pleased that we have taken an important step towards strengthening climate-friendly mobility and connecting important regions even faster.”
