Graz expands: Final stage for “Neutorlinie”
The city of Graz continues to grow: current forecasts show a population increase to more than 320,000 people in Austria’s second-largest city by 2030. Together with the equally increasing commuter traffic and the completion of national infrastructure projects such as the Koralm Railway, the number of public transport users is also increasing year on year. Reason enough to accelerate the switch to public transport and invest in the vehicle fleet and infrastructure.
Construction work on the new Neutor line has been underway since March 2023 to relieve congestion in Herrengasse and improve the frequency on the main axis between the main station and the city center. The new route will run via Neutorgasse, Andreas-Hofer-Platz, the newly renovated Tegetthoffbrücke bridge to Bad zur Sonne and Vorbeckgasse to the existing route in Annenstraße.
From November 2025, streetcars on lines 1, 4, 6 and 7 will be able to “dodge” via this route. Lines 6 and 7 will also be routed as lines 16 and 17 via Neutorgasse instead of Hauptplatz. The vehicle fleet will also be expanded: new Flexity streetcars from “Alstom” will be added to the Holding Graz fleet.
Final phase: Neutor line nearing completion
Following the completion of Neutorgasse, the opening of Tegetthoffbrücke and the ongoing track work in Belgiergasse, the connection of the tracks from Vorbeckgasse to Annenstraße will begin on 24.05.2025. As the laying of the new tracks from Vorbeckgasse to Annenstraße is a complex “track connection” including the line infrastructure, this work, including rail replacement services, will last until 07.09.2025. Test runs of the Neutor Line will begin when the route is completed in September as part of the inner city relief project. Service will commence on November 29. This means that during the day on weekdays, every second 7 will run as line 17 via Neutorgasse and in the evening hours Monday-Saturday and all day on Sundays, line 16 will run via the new route. Passengers will also have 2 new stops in each direction.
Graz continues to expand: Infrastructure investments in the west of Graz
The City of Graz and Holding Graz are using the long construction phase in the Vorbeckgasse/Annenstraße area to carry out important infrastructure and maintenance work in the west of Graz.
For example, several rail construction projects are being combined as a focus on the west public transport axis between depot 2 and depot 3 in order to avoid multiple closures of streetcar services on this busy connection in the future. In this phase, tracks will be replaced in the west of Graz, work will be carried out in depot 3 and track renovations will be carried out in the underpass area of the main station local transport hub.
In Eggenberger Straße, the existing entrance to the depot (points west) coming from out of the city will be renovated and a new entrance to the depot extension (points east) coming from the city will be built, and the track arches in the main station streetcar underpass will be replaced, The track connection from Vorbeckgasse to Annenstraße is being built as part of the inner city relief project, the track triangle at the Eggenberger Straße/Asperngasse junction is being completely replaced, the track arches in the Eggenberg/UKH reversing loop are being renewed and the Hauptplatz and Jakominiplatz stops are being adapted.
As streetcar services on the west-east axis have been suspended due to the numerous rail construction projects, part of the Erzherzog-Johann-Brücke bridge is also being renovated.
Statements:
Mayor Elke Kahr: “After two years of construction, we are now entering the final stage of a very important streetcar project. It is already clear that Neutorgasse has been very well received and is enhancing the entire city center. With the completion of the Neutor line in the fall, public transport will be even more reliable and faster, and stores and restaurants will be even better connected. I would like to thank everyone who has worked on this project and all residents and businesses for their patience.”
Deputy Mayor Judith Schwentner: “Final spurt! We are on the verge of completing the Neutorlinie, bringing to an end a construction site of the century that will sustainably improve accessibility in the city. I know that the work on the last section will be challenging again over the next few months, but the goal is already visible. The first streetcars will start running as early as November – a benefit for the whole city and its people. I would like to thank everyone in Graz for their support and understanding, as well as all those involved for their hard work in setting this crucial course for Graz.”
Daniela Schlüsselberger, head of the SPÖ parliamentary group: “The expansion of the Neutor line is entering its final phase and is a milestone for Graz in the future-oriented development of public transport. In Annenstraße in particular, it is essential to inform local businesses and residents comprehensively and in good time about the construction work. However, we must not forget the effects along the detour routes. Here too, comprehensive information is particularly important. Many thanks to all those involved in the implementation of this project, who are helping to further improve mobility in our city.”
City Planning Director Bertram Werle: “In a rapidly growing city, the need for mobility is also constantly increasing. We are taking this into account. As we want to strengthen the environmental network, including public transport, in urban development, corresponding improvements and expansions to the infrastructure are necessary. The Neutor line will thus create a second, powerful backbone for the city center. This is a leap in dimension for the future-oriented stability of streetcar traffic and ensures sustainable accessibility to the city center.”
Holding Graz CEO Wolfgang Malik: “The Neutor line as an additional streetcar route brings enormous advantages for the urban traffic flow and the public transport capacity in the city center overall – both for the citizens and for the guests of the state capital, especially for our passengers at Graz Linien. This year, Graz Linien is investing 23.3 million euros in its rail construction program. However, this is just one part of a long list of investments that the Holding Graz Group is leading in terms of public services. In the mobility, energy and water sectors alone, we are investing around 2 billion euros by 2040 in coordination with and financed by the owner, i.e. the citizens. The innovative “energy plant”, the expansion of the Graz wastewater treatment plant and the multifunctional expansion of “Steyrergasse-Süd” are highlights – all projects with multiple benefits in terms of the circular economy for environmental relief or cleaning up contaminated sites. Our Group is geared towards providing adequate and communicative support for its projects. After all, projects of this scale always have to keep an eye on their purpose and impact during the construction period due to their multi-year implementation. My thanks go to all those who work with commitment and foresight in the preparation and realization of such major projects. In addition to adhering to the implementation targets, our communication and information also play a targeted role in ensuring that major projects – such as the “Neutorlinie” – are well received at all levels and that everyone is ultimately looking forward to their commissioning.”
Holding Graz board member Mark Perz: “Despite the challenging and complex construction project, the construction work for the Neutor Line is still fully on schedule two years after the start of construction thanks to the commitment of our colleagues at Graz Linien and the city’s construction department. In line with our forward-looking corporate policy, we are now combining the final stage of the infrastructure project with other important construction and maintenance projects in the west of Graz. We have combined the necessary work in order to complete it in the shortest possible time.”
