Austrian rail operator ÖBB has begun the final expansion phase of the Vienna South freight hub, which will increase the terminal’s capacity by 44% from the current 380,000 to 547,000 TEU by the end of 2026. The hub, which has been in operation since 2016, handles intermodal cargo between road and rail and is located at a strategic intersection of the Pottendorf line, the S1 motorway and three pan-European rail corridors.
Once the project is complete, customers will be able to use eight 700-metre-long loading tracks. An additional gantry crane with automation capability will increase capacity, and two existing cranes will be upgraded for future automated operation. At the same time, road access and utility infrastructure will be improved.
According to Judith Engel, member of the board of ÖBB-Infrastruktur, the expansion of the Vienna terminal strengthens the position of rail transport as a key factor in sustainable logistics and makes it more competitive in the context of growing freight flows in Europe.