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The Semmeringbahn

Karl Ritter von Ghega was a genial pioneer who built
the first mountain railway in the world, the
picturesque Semmeringbahn railway. The
construction took around six years – from 1848 to
1854. At its crest the 42 km long mountain railway reaches 899 m above
sea level, and crosses the mountain massif via the 1430 m long
Semmering tunnel. As well the main tunnel, a further 14 tunnels, 19
stone arch viaducts and a gallery also needed to be constructed. The
steepest incline was 25 permille.

Thus in a relatively short time a connection from north to south, from
Cracow to Trieste, had been put in place. Railway building was literally
on the right track worldwide.

The development of railways in Carinthia

1863 – Klagenfurt is connected to the Maribor
railway network
1868 – Start-up of the “Kronprinz-Rudolf-Bahn”
(St. Michael – Glandorf (St. Veit) – Feldkirchen –
Villach)
1871 – Carinthia is connected to the Tyrol rail network
1873 – “Kronprinz-Rudolf-Bahn” is extended to Tarvisio

The Tauernbahn

This was the last railway project of the
monarchy, providing a shorter connection
between the northern parts of the monarchy
and the port of Trieste.
Construction was completed in 1909.
The stretch between Schwarzach-St. Veit and

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