In the Gastein valley, the next phase of ÖBB construction work begins on 3 March with extensive modernisation of the station and line. In addition to the renovation of the Tauern tunnel, the Tauern north ramp between the Schwarzach-St. Veit and Bad Gastein stations will now also be completely modernised by the beginning of July. At the same time, viaducts, noise barriers and retaining walls along the route will be renovated.
Traffic was interrupted at the end of 2024 due to an unforeseen event that caused part of the vault at the northern portal of the Tauern Tunnel to collapse during construction work. According to the current status, the Tauern Tunnel and the Tauern line will be opened to rail traffic on 14 July 2025 as planned. The Tauern Railway car shuttle will be reopened on 5 July 2025.
The Tauern route Salzburg – Villach is, alongside the Brenner route, the most important Austrian rail connection crossing the Alps and thus a main axis of Alpine transit. The centrepiece of the route is the approximately 81-kilometre-long Tauern Railway from Schwarzach in Pongau to Spittal an der Drau in Carinthia.
