Regional light rail in Salzburg: framework agreements signed

The agreement also includes the expansion of the local Salzburg railway in Flachgau and a contribution to the Pinzgau railway. At least half of the total costs of around 900 million euros will be borne by the federal government.

Underground extension of the local railway

The core of the project is the partially underground extension of the Salzburg local railway through the city center and on via Salzburg-Süd to Hallein (Tennengau). The first stage comprises the 700 meter long section from the local train station to the Mirabell Palace. Test drilling and seismic measurements have been carried out here since the summer, and plans will be presented in 2021. The planned start of construction of the first stretch is in 2023.

Strategy against the Salzburg traffic disaster

The local transport project is set out in the turquoise-green federal government program and is seen as an important step in protecting the climate and against the misery of Salzburg’s traffic. More than 150,000 people live in the state capital, within a radius of 30 kilometers, together with the Bavarian district of Berchtesgadener Land, about half a million. If you expand the radius to 50 kilometers, the area of ​​influence of the state capital includes more than one million people.

Car traffic is reaching its limits

Car traffic in and around the city of Salzburg is reaching its capacity, with nearly 60,000 commuters driving every day and up to 100,000 tourists regularly causing traffic jams on the roads. Traffic problems are likely to worsen in the future, as, on the one hand, higher annual population growth of five to six percent is expected in the conurbation.

First contracts signed

In addition to the framework agreement, the first specific financing contracts have been signed today for the planning of the first construction phase (around 20 million euros) and for the extension of the existing access route in Flachgau. From 2021 to 2025, around 146 million euros will be spent on rail safety, the construction of three new local train stations, the expansion of the double track to about five more kilometers of rail and a new depot. Eight million euros will be invested in the local Pinzgau railway between now and 2025. The city and state of Salzburg will share their share of the costs according to a key that has yet to be determined.

Climate ticket 1-2-3 from 2021

At the same time as the framework agreement, the Ministry of Climate Protection and the state of Salzburg also today signed the first implementation contract for the introduction of the 1-2-3 climate ticket next year. It is the first contract to be concluded with a federal state, and the others will follow in January 2021. “It is a historic package for climate protection and public transport,” emphasized today the Minister of Climate Protection, Leonore Gewessler ( Greens), when the contract was signed. The switch to public transport requires an adequate infrastructure, a good offer and an attractive price. The 1-2-3 climate ticket for € 1,095 per year for all public transport in Austria is a milestone.

Haslauer: great regional light rail future project

“The realization of the regional light rail is for us one of the biggest future projects in the transport sector,” said Salzburg Governor Wilfried Haslauer (ÖVP). “The project offers extremely attractive connections, especially for the many travelers, and an alternative for those who experience traffic jams,” emphasized his party colleague, Transport Councilor Stefan Schnöll. Last but not least, Salzburg Deputy Mayor Barbara Unterkofler (also ÖVP), as the city’s representative, expected a clear separation and relief from traffic today.

(Those: APA)