RCG aims for full operation at the beginning of November

Update 10/10/2024, 03:00 pm

The flood of the century in September had a massive impact on ÖBB's most important transport route – the Western Line between St. Pölten and Vienna. Following the latest relief measures – in particular the opening of the Tullnerfelderbahn for freight traffic – we can now present a concrete step-by-step plan for restoring full operation.

Three steps towards full freight capacity

1. As of today, 10 October, both tracks of the old Western Line are available again. In combination with the Tullnerfelderbahn, this will stabilise our traffic and ensure that at least 75% of the regular volume is operated.  
2. From 15 October, we will increase the capacity for freight traffic to 85% of the regular volume.  
3. From the beginning of November, we will be able to offer almost 100% of rail freight capacity.

In view of the existing restrictions and the high demand for train paths for both freight and passengers, we ask for your understanding that not every requested train path can be allocated. Infrastructure capacity is still very limited. Limited track capacity is available for ad-hoc traffic.

Repair of the new railway line

There is also good news for the badly damaged New Western Line. Both tracks will be fully operational from 15 December. This means that all tracks will be available with their usual capacity and speed in time for Christmas.

There is, however, a downside to the rapid commissioning of the new line: There will be a 4-week closure of the Western Line in the 2nd or 3rd quarter of 2025 to complete the repair work and install the necessary new components. The exact timing of this final closure is difficult to predict at this stage and will depend on the supply of the components by the rail industry.  

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you again for your patience and trust during this challenging situation. If you have any specific questions regarding your shipments, please do not hesitate to contact your RCG representative.
 

Update 30/09/2024, 03:00 pm

ÖBB's most important transport route – the Western Line between St. Pölten and Vienna – is still subject to severe restrictions, which are expected to continue for an extended period of time. Nevertheless, we are pleased to be able to report today that, thanks to the dedicated efforts of our employees, significant improvements in operations have been achieved. 

Rail freight on the move again 

We are now able to extend our train times from night-time only to daytime. This is what we have achieved for you: 

• Since Saturday 28 September, we have been able to increase our traffic on the 110 line (Tullnerfelderbahn) as a connection exclusively for freight trains by at least 75% of the regular volume.  
• We are increasingly using large diversions via the Southern Route and Summerau. 

 
Further relief expected in October 

The situation has improved significantly compared to last week. We also expect further relief with the planned opening of the second track on the old Western Line from 10 October. Please note that ad hoc train orders on the current Western Line are not yet possible according to the infrastructure operator. We appreciate your understanding and will keep you informed of any further developments. 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you once again for your patience and trust in this challenging situation. If you have any specific questions regarding your shipments, please do not hesitate to contact your RCG representative.
 

Update 24/09/2024, 02:00 pm

Undermined tracks, flooded tunnels and stations – the extreme weather has left its mark on the rail infrastructure. The extent of the damage has only become apparent in the last few days and is more devastating than initially thought.

Austria

• In Austria, Tullnerfeld station and the Atzenbrugger tunnel between Tullnerfeld and St. Pölten have been particularly badly affected by flooding. The extent of the damage only became apparent in the last few days, after the one-metre-high water in the tunnel had been pumped out by the fire brigade. The clean-up and, in particular, the reconstruction work is expected to take several months. 
• The Western Line is ÖBB's busiest line and consists of four tracks. The two new tracks between Vienna and St. Pölten were only opened in 2012. The old two-track Western Line through the Wienerwald was also affected by the floods. At least one track is currently operational. However, it will only be possible to use it with two tracks from 10 October at the earliest. 
• On a normal day, about 550 passenger and freight trains can travel on the entire Western Line between Vienna and St. Pölten. Since the new Western Line is interrupted and the old Western Line through the Wienerwald is only single-track in some places, only about 150 trains a day can currently run – for all passenger and freight trains on the market. Rail freight transport therefore remains severely restricted.

International

• Other countries affected by the floods, such as Poland and the Czech Republic, are also experiencing severe restrictions, especially in border areas. Flooding has also occurred in Italy, particularly in Emilia-Romagna. Extensive diversionary and reception measures have been put in place in the affected areas. 
   

Thank you for your patience

We appreciate your patience and understanding during this difficult situation. We know how disruptive the current restrictions are to the industry and can assure you that our logistics experts are doing everything in their power to restore operations as quickly as possible. We will keep you updated on developments. If you have any specific questions about your shipments, please contact your RCG representative.
 

 

Update 17/09/2024, 04:00 pm

The rain has tapered off or stopped altogether in many regions. However, the situation for freight transport remains tense. While the first lines have reopened, the list of sections still closed, both nationally and internationally, remains long.

Intensive clean-up operations
Right now, the focus is on repairing damage to the infrastructure and clearing the tracks of mud and fallen trees – in the hope that the next loose tree won't fall on the tracks. Only when this work has been completed can we maintain the infrastructure for safety reasons to ensure the smooth running of your freight. Please rest assured that we will do everything in our power to repair the damage as quickly as possible However, it will take some time before all restrictions are lifted on the main routes, particularly for single wagonload traffic.

International challenges
This affects not only Austria, but also other countries affected by the floods, such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania and Hungary. We are in close contact with our local infrastructure partners, but the challenges are similar in all regions. The backlog at the borders, and therefore the processing of freight traffic, will take several more days. 

Security of supply is our top priority
We are working around the clock to reassess the situation with a view to systematically resuming operations to ensure the supply of goods to industry and the population. We will keep you informed.

If you have any questions regarding your transports or before sending new shipments, please contact your RCG representative.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.