Koralmbahn closed for hours in the evening – people on the tracks

Klaus Baumgartner, spokesperson for ÖBB, informed 5 Minuten about the timeline of the closure upon inquiry. He said verbatim: "Erst dann kann die Strecke wieder freigegeben werden". The incident occurred in the area of the new high-performance line, which, since its full commissioning, has been a central element of the Austrian rail network and brings travelers significantly faster between Graz and Klagenfurt.

Course of the closure

The closure lasted several hours and led to significant disruptions in rail traffic on the Koralmbahn line. Trains that were traveling on the connection between Carinthia and Styria on Saturday evening were unable to continue their journey as planned. Travelers had to expect delays and partial cancellations; alternative travel options were organized by ÖBB.

ÖBB explained that the safety of passengers and train staff is the top priority. As soon as people are detected on the track area, a line closure must be initiated immediately for safety reasons. Train operations can only resume once it has been confirmed that the track area is completely clear again.

Safety measures and affected section of the line

The area around St. Paul station in the Lavanttal, which is located on the Koralmbahn line, was among the areas affected. ÖBB initially provided no further details on the exact number of people on the track area or on any possible injuries or background to the incident.

The Koralmbahn line has connected Klagenfurt with Graz since its opening and significantly shortens the travel time between the two state capitals. It is considered one of Austria's largest infrastructure projects and is used daily by numerous commuters and travelers. A closure on a Saturday evening affects many passengers who are traveling on the weekend.

Impact on rail traffic

The incident was spread via the news portal Krone Multimedia (KMM) and other media. During the closure, ÖBB also deployed its own response teams to clarify the situation on site and restore safety on the line.

After the line was reopened shortly after 10 p.m., rail traffic on the Koralmbahn gradually returned to normal, according to ÖBB. Delays, however, could still have an impact into the late evening hours. Passengers were asked to inform themselves about the current schedules and connection options.

Background and possible consequences

The Carinthian authorities were informed of the incident. Police could subsequently open investigations to clarify the background of the track incursion. So far, however, there is no official information on the identity of the individuals or any possible criminal consequences.

Overall, the incident shows how sensitive modern railway lines are to disruptions in the track area and how quickly a closure lasting several hours can become necessary for safety reasons. ÖBB emphasized that such measures are unavoidable in order to ensure the safety of all travelers.