Even before passenger service commences in December, ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG) has already launched the first freight trains on the new Kor-Alm railway line. This step strengthens climate-neutral logistics in Austria and significantly reduces travel times between Carinthia and Styria.
The new line allows trains to travel directly from Villach to Graz, without detours through Knittelfeld, Leoben, and Frohnleiten. Thanks to the flatter route profile, each train can carry 250–280 tons more freight, saving up to 300,000 kilometers per year and reducing energy consumption. One of the first customers was Omya, which began using the new route for domestic transport of mineral fillers, reducing CO₂ emissions and improving supply chain efficiency.
The Kor-Alm railway is part of the pan-European Baltic-Adriatic Transport Corridor. Its commissioning will create a four-track southern axis, increasing rail transport capacity by 30% and strengthening Austria’s role as a key logistics hub in Europe.