📋 Tender Overview
With the start of construction, the Wels terminal is on the verge of a quantum leap: higher efficiency, greater flexibility and increased safety create the conditions for a shift of freight traffic to environmentally friendly rail. Since the beginning of the 1990s, the Wels terminal has been one of the largest and most important freight hubs of ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG. In order to meet the requirements of modern freight transport, the terminal is now being completely rebuilt and modernized. By completion in 2027, ÖBB will invest around €68 million together with the European Union.
Longer loading tracks and tie-through
With a length of 580 metres, the existing loading tracks of the crane runway are now too short for the handling of block trains. In addition, they are only connected to the western line on one side via the marshalling yard to the west. The centrepiece of the renovation is the creation of a modern drive-through terminal. To this end, an additional connection to the western line will be created to the east of the terminal. In addition, the craneable length of the four loading tracks will be extended to 700 metres. In the future, longer block trains will be able to enter and leave the terminal – from the west and east.
"With the conversion of the Wels terminal, we are creating the conditions for higher cargo throughput in a shorter time and with less effort. In this way, as many goods as possible can be reloaded quickly between road and rail," says Judith Engel, Member of the Board of Management of ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG.
"It is high time for railways to shift traffic from road to rail in order to counteract climate change. As an important hub in the centre of Europe, the Wels terminal is an important part of the transport transition in Europe," said EU Ambassador Martin Selmayr.
Optimised use of space and new traffic routing
The existing in-gate building as well as the administration and customs buildings will be demolished and rebuilt in a different location. This creates space for the tracks and parking areas. The parking areas for trailers are currently spread over different areas. During the conversion, the use of space and traffic routing will be optimised and the parking areas for trailers, containers and swap bodies will be increased. This simplifies logistical processes at the terminal, achieves a more flexible use of the area and thus greater adaptability depending on the mix of loading units. A railway crossing will be built for the access road to the rolling road and the parking area for semi-trailers.
Efficient construction
During the construction of the new terminal, special attention will be paid to sustainable building materials.
The timber administration building can be operated in an energy-neutral manner through the use of highly thermally insulating components and a photovoltaic system. More than 650 PV modules with a total output of 250 kWp will be mounted on the roof of the building. The amount of electricity produced annually corresponds to the needs of about 65 households and is used directly at the site. In addition, new e-charging stations at the parking lot offer perfect conditions for environmentally friendly electromobility.
Terminal Wels: Innovative hub in the centre of Europe
The Wels terminal is one of the largest and most important freight transshipment points of ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG. With its location on the western line and thus on the Rhine-Danube corridor, it is well anchored in the international rail network. Geographically, too, it is ideally located at the crossroads of the axes between the North Sea ports and Southeastern Europe as well as France and Eastern Europe. In addition, the terminal benefits from its location in a strong industrial region with enormous growth potential and has a direct motorway connection – ideal conditions for a high throughput of goods.
Restrictions on road traffic
From January to May 2024, effects are to be expected in the area of the junction at the terminal to the A25 motorway. The reconstruction of the node will be carried out in 2 construction phases. In the first phase of construction, all roads and access roads around the new terminal will be adapted. In the access area, the alignment of Dillerstraße, Unterharterstraße and Terminalstraße will be redesigned. In the first construction phase, Dillerstraße and Unterharterstraße will be closed. In the second construction phase from 28 February, the terminal road will also be passable with difficulty (half-way closures). The "ÖBB-Terminal Wels" junction and Terminalstraße will be completely closed from 12 to 15 April 2024.
