Fatal workplace accident at Semmering Base Tunnel construction site in Schottwien

According to ÖBB spokesperson Daniel Pinka, the accident occurred at the Göstritz construction site on the Lower Austrian side and not inside the tunnel itself. According to this, the accident happened above ground during the dismantling of the workshop, that is, a construction site container. At least two workers are said to have been struck by falling steel parts.

ÖBB express their condolences

According to ÖBB, the two affected individuals are not employees of the state-owned company, but rather workers of a contracted construction firm active on the Göstritz construction lot. Thus, an external company at the tunnel construction site is responsible for the victims.

The exact sequence of the accident is currently being thoroughly investigated by police together with the prosecutors. It is still unclear how the accident could have happened. The investigations are to clarify why steel parts fell and whether there were violations of safety regulations.

The Austrian Federal Railways expressed their dismay over the incident. "Die ÖBB sind tief betroffen und sprechen den Angehörigen ihr aufrichtiges Mitgefühl aus", declared ÖBB spokesperson Daniel Pinka. The company announced that it would fully investigate the accident and initiate all necessary steps.

Fifth fatality in the project

With the current fatality, the number of deaths during construction of the Semmering Base Tunnel rises to five. As of Monday, four fatalities had occurred since the start of construction on the project. The latest incident is considered the fifth fatal accident.

The opening of the Semmering Base Tunnel is planned for 2030. The final tunnel breakthrough already took place in November 2024, and work has been underway on the technical tunnel equipment in the two tubes since last year. Until all necessary technical systems, lines and concrete track-support slabs are installed, another three years will pass.

The Semmering Base Tunnel is to create a direct rail connection through the mountain between Styria and Lower Austria. With a length of around 27 kilometers, the project is one of Austria's largest infrastructure undertakings and is part of the new southern route.

Investigations into the cause of the accident

The Göstritz construction site is located in the municipality of Schottwien, which belongs to the district of Neunkirchen. Schottwien is a small town at the foot of the Semmering, where construction work for the billion-euro project has been concentrated for years. Lower Austrian emergency forces had to deploy to the accident site late in the morning.

Police and prosecutors will now reconstruct the sequence of events in detail. Experts are to be consulted, among other things, to clarify the exact circumstances of the fall of the steel parts. The role of occupational safety at the construction site will also be the subject of the investigations.

The news of the death of the 45-year-old Croatian man and the serious injury of his 54-year-old colleague triggered dismay in the region on Monday. On a major construction site such as the one at the Semmering Base Tunnel, hundreds of people work daily under often difficult conditions both underground and above ground.

Background: The Semmering Base Tunnel mega-project

For the family of the deceased and the relatives of the injured, a wait for information began. The responsible authorities, including the Neunkirchen district administration, were informed of the incident. Consular support for the Croatian citizen is also likely to have been initiated.

The ÖBB announced that, in coordination with the construction firm, they would carry out a comprehensive safety analysis at the affected construction site. If the ongoing investigations yield indications of serious safety deficiencies, consequences for the further construction process could follow. Commissioning in 2030 remains the project's goal according to the current status.