ARGE PORR and Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group win €176million contract to equip the Semmering Base Tunnel

ARGE PORR and Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group win €176million contract to equip the Semmering Base Tunnel

Following on from the hugely successful Koralm Tunnel partnership, the Austrian railway specialists will now work on a second major OBB tunnel project.

It is one of the most important railway infrastructure projects in the heart of Europe: the Semmering Base Tunnel between Gloggnitz in Lower Austria and Mürzzuschlag in Styria. It has now been confirmed it will be equipped by ARGE “BTA Semmering Base Tunnel 4.1.” True to the motto “never change a winning team,” the two railway technology experts PORR Group and Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group (RSRG) have teamed up once again. After the Koralm Tunnel, this is the second major ÖBB tunnel project the two companies will equip. PORR will once again take on the commercial management, while RSRG will lead the technical aspects.

The €176 million contract – which was awarded by ÖBB Infrastruktur AG - includes telecommunications, electrical equipment with high-voltage systems, distribution units, lighting, and emergency exit signage, as well as signage. Additionally, the contract includes mechanical systems for air conditioning, ventilation, firefighting water systems, and metalworking. The ARGE partners will begin planning immediately, with construction set to start in June 2025. The tunnel is scheduled to be operational by 2030.

“We are delighted to contribute to a sustainable and safe connection between Lower Austria and Styria,” says Robert Kumpusch, Managing Director for project business at RSRG. “We are happy to bring our expertise as a full-service provider and our experience from numerous successfully completed projects.” Karl-Heinz Strauss, CEO of PORR, adds: “We see winning this contract for the Semmering Base Tunnel as further confirmation of our successful partnership on the Koralm Tunnel, and we are confident that we will once again meet the high expectations here.” The two partners will, as before, combine their expertise and experience to complete the project on time, within budget, and to the complete satisfaction of the client.