ÖBB Annual Report 2023

23 For a reliable future be reduced to approx. 45 minutes at speeds of up to 230 kilometres per hour. When the Semmering Base Tunnel is also completed in 2030, the journey time between Vienna and Graz will be less than two hours and between Klagenfurt and Vienna less than three hours. A historic breakthrough was also achieved in this project in 2023 – in the truest sense of the word. The final tunnel drive was completed on the Styrian side in September. This means that 97 percent of the tunnel has already been excavated. The tunnelling work from the Lower Austrian side should also be completed by 2025. Progress has also been made on the Brenner Base Tunnel, which at 64 kilometres will be the longest underground rail link in the world. In 2023, construction work on the “Viller Berg” and “Tunnel Silltal” tunnel sections could be completed. Besides the major main lines, the framework plan will also modernise and electrify the regional lines in order to make switching to the railway more attractive in rural areas as well. This also includes the conversion of train stations into mobility hubs. The Vienna S-Bahn is also being upgraded on its main line, which runs between Vienna Meidling in the south and Vienna Floridsdorf in the north of the city and is the busiest local transport route in Austria with approx. 250,000 passengers per working day. The rail infrastructure will be modernised and the ETCS Level 2 train control system implemented by 2027. This will create the technical conditions for a more frequent service of 2.5 minute intervals during rush hour. Digitalisation brings train safety and drones The digital train control system ETCS (European Train Control System) is a very good example of how digitalisation and automation can help to make public transport more attractive, more effective and efficient. The train guidance system controls the distance and speed and makes train transport even safer and more efficient. In 2023, ÖBB-Infra­ struktur AG concluded a framework agreement with Siemens Mobility Austria worth 400 million euros to equip all Austrian high-performance lines and main lines with the modern ETCS Level 2. Another example of the use of digital technologies is drones, which are suitable for various applications – for the semi-automated inspection of buildings, natural hazards or extraordinary events. In 2023, ÖBB-Infra became the first railway infrastructure company in Europe to receive authorisation to operate drones without direct visual contact. Green electricity production further expanded Last but not least, ÖBB is further expanding its environmentally friendly electricity production. 1.6 billion euros will be invested to increase the company’s own supply of traction current – together with partners and long-term secured electricity supplies – from 60 to 80 percent and the supply of operating facilities from 11 to 67 percent by 2030. < Digitalisation of rail ÖBB is implementing comprehen- sive digital initiatives that bring greater safety and efficiency to rail operations and make an important contribution to achiev- ing the aimed doubling of the railway system’s efficiency by 2040 . FIND OUT MORE in the Manage m ent Rep ort on p ages MR17, MR20, MR25, MR29, MR32, MR42, MR143 Traction power from the sun ÖBB wants to significantly increase its own electricity production from 60 to 80 percent, with the power of the sun playing an important role. ÖBB-Infrastruktur put 24 new photo­ voltaic systems into operation last year alone. This brings the total number of ÖBB-owned photovoltaic systems to 92, which together produce over 15 GWh of electricity per year, which corresponds to the annual consumption of 3,750 house- holds. More than 20 additional photo- voltaic systems are being planned or examined for 2024. successfully passed the bridge load test in 2023. Full operational commissioning is scheduled for 2025