VILLACH IS WAITING

VILLACH – THE GATEWAY TO THE SOUTH

Long before Villach’s main railway station – originally called Südbahnhof – opened in 1864, the city on the Drau was already an important transport hub. Villach connected the Alpine passes in northwest Austria with the port city of Venice in northeast Italy, serving as a vital link between northern and southern Europe.

With the opening of the station in the 19th century, Villach’s role as a European mobility hub grew further. Today, alongside Vienna and Salzburg, the city is one of Austria’s three central railway junctions for international long-distance traffic. Here, the Southern Line (Vienna–Villach) and the Tauern Line (Salzburg–Villach) intersect, making Villach a strategic European hub indispensable for rail traffic between Germany, Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia.

AN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT THAT MAKES HISTORY

The Koralm Railway – a new high-performance line through the Koralm mountain range – is one of Europe’s largest and most significant infrastructure projects of the 21st century. The 130-kilometre railway is part of the Southern Line, connecting northern and southern Austria and linking Vienna directly with the railway city of Villach. It is also a key section of the Baltic–Adriatic Corridor – the trans-European route between the Baltic Sea and the Adriatic.

The centerpiece of the project is the 33-kilometre Koralm Tunnel, which, for the first time, allows a direct rail connection between the provincial capitals Graz and Klagenfurt – connecting Styria and Carinthia. The section between Klagenfurt and St. Paul in the Lavant Valley has been operational since December 2023. On December 14th, the entire line was fully commissioned and officially inaugurated – a historic moment marking the beginning of a new era of mobility in Austria.

VILLACH IS WAITING FOR YOU

From Villach, Europe opens in all directions. But the city is much more than a transit or transfer station – it is also an ideal destination for anyone seeking diverse leisure options, exciting events, and attractive career opportunities.

As a hub of innovative companies – including Infineon Austria, the tpv Technology Park Villach, and practice-oriented educational institutions like CUAS – the city offers excellent career and educational prospects, particularly for commuters from Styria who benefit from the new rail connection. In addition, Villach is a rewarding destination for tourists and day-trippers: surrounded by turquoise lakes and impressive mountains, the region offers year-round outdoor experiences – from skiing and hiking to swimming. Seasonal events such as the carnival celebrations Villacher Fasching or Austria’s biggest traditional folk fest Villacher Kirchtag, renowned far beyond Carinthia, are now even more easily and sustainably accessible thanks to the new rail line.

Villach’s location impresses not only with its strong economic dynamism but also with its attractive setting and cultural diversity.