Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) has announced a major modernization of the Franz-Josefs-Bahn line, which connects the Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof in Vienna with Gmünd on the Czech border. As part of the project, approximately 400 overhead line masts will be replaced and around 21 km of new track will be laid on the section between Absdorf-Hippersdorf and Limberg-Maissau; an additional 3 km of track will be constructed between Limberg-Maissau and Eggenburg. Plans also include the refurbishment of bridges and drainage systems, as well as the replacement of the pedestrian bridge at Sigmundsherberg station.
Particular attention will be paid to the reconstruction of Limberg-Maissau station, which will feature a new platform equipped with a modern passenger information system. By 2027, microprocessor-based interlocking systems will be implemented at five stations, enabling train movements to be managed from a single control center.
Looking ahead, ÖBB plans to lay a second track on sections north of Absdorf-Hippersdorf and east of Irnfritz; work on these sections is scheduled to begin in the early 2030s. By 2030, the town of Horn will gain a direct connection to Vienna, and travel time will be reduced by 15 minutes, bringing the total journey time to approximately 70 minutes. Trains between Gmünd and Vienna will run at one-hour intervals, with service every 30 minutes during peak hours. To facilitate the work, phased closures of specific sections of the line are scheduled for 2026.