Flooding in Austria interrupts traffic on multiple lines
Torrential rain in the west and south of Austria has led to flooding and mud-slides, interrupting rail traffic on several lines. Traffic has been halted in Tyrol since yesterday, says ÖBB. Long-distance traffic on the Tauern line between Salzburg and Spittal-Millstättersee/Klagenfurt is also suspended. Due to necessary closures, only a severely restricted train service is possible.
Due to mudslides, the Brenner railway line between Innsbruck and Brennero Station in Italy is closed for train traffic. A rail replacement bus service has been set up for passengers. Similarly, due to flooding, the West Line is closed for train traffic between Imst-Pitztal Bf and Schönwies. A rail replacement bus service has also been established between Ötztal Bf and Landeck-Zams Station, and between Imst-Pitztal and Landeck-Zams. ÖBB expects the above closures to be in place likely until 6:00 PM on Tuesday.
The Mittenwald Railway Line is closed for train traffic between Innsbruck-Hötting and Innsbruck Westbahnhof. Customers are requested to use regional buses and trams within the urban area of Innsbruck. Trains on the Mittenwald Line depart from and arrive at Innsbruck Hötting Station. Long-distance services between Graz and Innsbruck/Salzburg, which run as far as Bischofshofen, are also affected. Night train connections via the Tauern route and the West route are also affected. Trains from Innsbruck to Graz turn around in Zell am See.
Other closures
On the Tauern line, train services between Bad Hofgastein and Bad Gastein are also currently interrupted due to flooding but a rail replacement service has been set up. Against the background of the current storm situation in the west of Austria, the railway line over the Tauern between Schwarzach/St. Veit and Spittal-Millstättersee have now also had to be closed until presumably 14:00 today. All long-distance trains between Salzburg, Spittal-Millstättersee, Villach and Klagenfurt are affected. Between Golling and Werfen a rail replacement service with buses could be arranged in the meantime.
Due to the current weather conditions, train services between Golling-Abtenau and Werfen as well as between Bruck-Fusch Bahnhof and Schwarzach-St.Veit Bahnhof had to be suspended, but rail replacement services are also not possible at the moment. As such, ÖBB asks its customers to inform themselves in advance about any restrictions or to refrain from unnecessary journeys. Please note that the number of seats available in the rail replacement service may be limited and that alternative travel options should be used if possible. Train tickets from 28 August 2023 and 29 August 2023 can be rebooked free of charge.
In the past weeks, extreme rain has plagued several areas in Europe, damaging railway infrastructure and halting traffic. In Norway, several lines are closed, a bridge collapsed and flooding washed away tracks last week, and heavy rain again caused trouble on several railway lines in Eastern Norway. In Russia, the Baikal-Amur line flooded last week.
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