Summary
The main goal of the measures taken in the sector of the Austrian rail infrastructure is the upgrading of the high capacity lines along the main corridors, above all also to optimise the line capacities. The main emphasis lies here on the western line and on the other important transit routes through Austria and in the greater area of Vienna. Taking into consideration the topographical situation and in view of the population density, the upgraded speeds in the inner-Alpine regions reach up to 160 km/h. On the western line Vienna – Salzburg a speed level of 200 km/h is strived for, which will enable the line to be linked to the European high-speed network.
New developments in the field of signalling technology have brought improvements in quality to the railway operation: in the coming years the line Vienna – Budapest will be equipped as one of the first lines with the uniform European Train Control System ETCS (Level 1). Moreover, it was decided in the autumn of 2001 to equip all main lines on Austrian Federal Railways (with the exception of the western line) with ETCS (Level 1). The western line Vienna – Salzburg will still be equipped with LZB (continuous automatic train-running control) to enable maximum speeds of over 160 km/h.
The application of tilting technology is under discussion at the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). When planning new operating lines for tilting trains, it should however be taken into consideration that their scheduled application will require a preceding adaptation of the lines both in view of the signalling and train control systems installed and with regard to the permanent way.
In the coming years around 2,300 kilometres of the entire Austrian rail network will be brought up to the standard of high-capacity railway lines. The topographical location of Austria, the technical status quo of the permanent way and the high quantity of engineering structures make this goal a particular challenge.
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