Global Opportunities

Austria: Tunnel construction projects offer opportunities for Swiss expertise

For current major projects such as the construction of the Brenner Base Tunnel, the Koralm Tunnel and the Semmering Base Tunnel, there are ongoing opportunities for Swiss companies to contribute their expertise.

Austria: The investment for the tunnel projects amounts to over 25 billion euros
Austria: The investment for the tunnel projects amounts to over 25 billion euros

Traffic will continue to grow over the next few years. Austria is currently investing in three major tunnel construction projects – the Brenner Base Tunnel, Koralm Tunnel and Semmering Base Tunnel – to be able to cope optimally with increased traffic volume. All of these should be completed by 2026 at the latest. There are also inflow lines which are scheduled to be completed five to ten years later. As a result, there are constantly new opportunities for Swiss companies to contribute their know-how and expertise to these projects.

The Brenner Base Tunnel (BBT)

The BBT is a flat railway tunnel connecting Austria and Italy. Together with a large part of the already existing Innsbruck underground bypass, the BBT would reach a length of 64 km, making it the longest underground rail link in the world. Construction is scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2025. After a year of trial operation, it will be opened for regular rail traffic. The execution of all activities, in particular the planning, the handling of approval procedures and the exploration and construction work is the responsibility of the project company Brenner Basistunnel BBT SE, in which Italy and Austria are involved.

The Koralm Tunnel

The Koralm Tunnel is the sixth longest railway tunnel in the world, and will connect Styria with Carinthia. With the construction of the high-performance line, the economic locomotive should pick up speed too. In total, more than 90% of the Koralm Railway is under construction or already completed. As such, trains are already moving on individual sections, while other stretches still require high-pressure work on bridges, tunnels, open spaces and railway stations.

The Semmering Base Tunnel

The Semmering Base Tunnel has been under construction since 2012 and is a 27.3 km long railway tunnel that passes under the northern Alpine chain between Gloggnitz and Mürzzuschlag. The 27.3-kilometer-long tunnel is scheduled to be completed in 2025 and will connect Gloggnitz and Mürzzuschlag by way of two parallel tubes.

The construction of these tunnels should massively reduce travel time, shift road traffic to rail, and reduce air, noise and dust pollution. Swiss companies have already participated in the Koralm Tunnel and the Vienna Forest Tunnel.

Time frames

  • Brenner Base Tunnel Completion: 2025, Tyrol
    Investment sum: over 8 billion euros
  • Koralm Tunnel: Completion: 2024/25, Styria/Carinthia
    Investment sum: up to 15 billion euros
  • Semmering Base Tunnel: Completion: 2026, Lower Austria
    Investment sum: 3.3 billion euros

Current new construction projects and construction tenders

For the current major tunnel construction projects, there are ongoing tenders in which Swiss SMEs can also participate. Information can be found at the following websites: http://www.auftragsnetz.at
http://www.ausschreibungen.at
https://www.bbt-se.com/information/ausschreibungen/
https://www.asfinag.at/ueber-uns/ausschreibungen/

If you have questions about business opportunities in Austria or would like to check your potential with no obligation, please contact our advisor for Austria, Katalin Dreher-Hajnal. E-Mail

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