Annual Report 2025 – ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG

ÖBB-Infrastruktur Aktiengesellschaft Group Management Report | Consolidated Financial Statements 130 SBM-3 Material impacts, risks and opportunities and their interaction with strategy and business model The emission of noise from railway operations follows physical laws that may not be overridden. The noise emitted by trains spreads through the atmosphere and is perceived in the environment as emission, with local residents being particularly affected. Local residents living near rail infrastructure are therefore defined as affected communities. The material negative impact is presented in the table in sub-section S3 Overview. Legal decisions resulting from an increase in complaints or stricter requirements can lead to higher costs and damage to reputation for the ÖBB-Infrastruktur Group. As part of the “Night Noise Guidelines for Europe” (NNGL), the World Health Organisation (WHO) summarised scientific research on the health effects of night-time noise pollution in Europe in 2009 and derived a long-term target value for the night-time noise index (L night,outside ) of 40 dB. This is regarded as the lower threshold value that ensures the protection of vulnerable groups (such as children, chronically ill persons and older people) from adverse effects. The update to the WHO’s “Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region” published in 2018 recommends reducing the average noise exposure L DEN for rail traffic to less than 54 dB in order to prevent “Adverse health effects.” For night-time noise exposure, a night noise index L night,outside of less than 44 dB is recommended on the basis of medical findings in order to prevent “adverse effects on sleep”. Legislation on limit values also takes into account general framework conditions, such as economic factors. These sources support the ÖBB-Infrastruktur Group in developing a better understanding that affected communities with certain characteristics may be more vulnerable to the impacts. Risks arising for the ÖBB-Infrastruktur Group in connection with noise emissions do not affect any specific group within the affected communities, but all residents. S3-1 Policies related to affected communities The following policies play a decisive role for the ÖBB-Infrastruktur Group in relation to material impacts, risks and opportunities. No. Policy Description S3-K-1 #INFRAsustainabilitystrategy *) #INFRA.sustainabilitystrategy sets out key priorities and operational objectives, including in the social sphere, and complements #INFRA.mobilitytransition. The strategy sets out the following approach to issues affecting the communities concerned: – We are working to reduce noise pollution along the rail network and thereby minimise the negative impact on local residents. This is how we fulfil our social responsibility. S3-K-2 “Environmental Noise 2024” action plan 47 The “Environmental Noise 2024” action plan for railway lines outside and within conurbations forms the strategic basis for ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG’s management of the material impacts on affected communities. The aim of the 2024 Environmental Noise Action Plan is to reduce the negative impact of noise emissions on local residents; it includes measures relating to new and upgraded lines, existing railway lines, the replacement of noise barriers on existing railway lines, “quiet” freight wagons, railway noise research and monitoring at the Lind ob Velden noise measurement station. All main railway lines with a traffic volume of more than 30,000 trains per calendar year and, in addition, all other railway lines of ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG in the conurbations of Vienna, Linz, Graz, Salzburg and Innsbruck in accordance with the Federal Environmental Noise Protection Ordinance Federal Gazette. II, No. 144/2006. The plan covers all residents living along these routes. The “Environmental Noise 2024” action plan is a strategic instrument of the Republic of Austria, represented by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI) with regard to dealings with the European Commission and forms the basis for further planning. Although the sub-action plans, such as those for railway lines, do not establish any direct subjective public rights, ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG supports the measures of the action plan for protection against environmental noise from railways as far as possible. *) Strategies are decided by the Management Board of ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG and apply to the ÖBB-Infrastruktur Group. 4 7 https://www.laerminfo.at/dam/jcr:3fbfc3ce-032a-4107-944d-6ea600821b81/Aktionsplan_Umgebungslaerm_2024_Eisenbahnen.pdf.