ÖBB to close key rail corridor in Innsbruck, Tyrol, due to bridge reconstruction in January 2026

A major rail infrastructure project in Innsbruck will lead to significant service disruptions in January 2026, as Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) replaces the aging Rauchmühl railway bridge in Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol. The bridge, crossed daily by around 270 trains, has been in service for more than 60 years and has now reached the end of its technical lifespan.

Planning for the replacement began three years ago, with construction works launched earlier this year. The new steel bridge structure, spanning 29 meters and measuring just over 11 meters wide, is currently being prefabricated. In January, the 1,400-ton structure will be moved into its final position using heavy-duty lifting platforms, a process requiring millimeter-level precision.

The bridge reconstruction will disrupt passengers’ traffic during the entire month of January at a time where many tourists come to Innsbruck and its surrounding ski resorts. 

The most disruptive phase for passengers will then take place from January 7 to 29, 2026, when Innsbruck central station will be partially served due to the closure of the West Line at the bridge level. This section is one of Tyrol’s busiest rail corridors. ÖBB will operate an extensive rail replacement service, deploying up to 90 buses to maintain mobility for both regional and long-distance travelers. Some trains will be rerouted through the Innsbruck bypass tunnel.

Impact on regional services

In details, travelers going to the capital of Tyrol should expect the following changes:

– Transfers to buses for long-distance rail passengers will take place in Jenbach station outside Innsbruck. Passengers on regional S-Bahn trains and REX services will change to buses in Hall in Tirol, with services operating to and from Innsbruck Central Station.

• S4 and CJX1 services will be suspended between Innsbruck Hbf and Hall in Tirol.

• Rail replacement buses will operate every 15 minutes. Travel time between Innsbruck Hbf and Hall in Tirol will be approximately 27 minutes.

• REX 2 services will continue with an additional stop at Hall-Thaur and will operate as far as the Rum stop. From there, passengers with a valid ticket may use alternative services provided by Innsbrucker Verkehrsbetriebe (IVB). For direct travel to Innsbruck Central Station, passengers are advised to use the rail replacement buses from Hall in Tirol station.

• During peak hours, selected trains in both directions will run directly to Innsbruck Central Station via the Innsbruck bypass tunnel. Details are available through the electronic timetable system.

• Innsbruck Messe (Fair) stop will not be served during the closure. Alternative IVB public transport services will be available.

Impact on long-distance services

• ÖBB long-distance trains will operate every two hours via the Innsbruck bypass tunnel, including selected WESTbahn services. Direct connections between Vienna – Innsbruck – Bregenz will remain available. Travel times will however increase by up to 50 minutes between Vienna and Innsbruck, and by about one hour between Vienna and Bregenz.

• RJX services not using the bypass tunnel will operate only to and from Jenbach, with bus connections to Innsbruck Hbf, adding up to 40 minutes to journey times.

• For RJX Vienna–Zurich services, buses will replace trains between Innsbruck and Jenbach, increasing travel time by around one hour.

• InterRegio Ennstal Line trains (Graz Hbf–Innsbruck Hbf) will start and terminate in Jenbach, with bus connections to Innsbruck.

• Brenner long-distance services (to/from Venice, Bologna, Verona, and Munich) will be rerouted via the Innsbruck bypass tunnel and will not stop in Innsbruck. An additional stop will be introduced in Steinach am Brenner, with S-Bahn connections to Innsbruck Hbf. Travel times between Wörgl and Brenner will remain unchanged.

• Nightjet and EuroNight services on the east–west axis (Vienna–Bregenz/Zurich and Graz–Klagenfurt–Zurich) will be rerouted, with all Tyrolean stops canceled. Replacement buses will operate between Wörgl, Jenbach, and Innsbruck, with travel times extended by up to 90 minutes.

• Nightjet 420/421 (Innsbruck–Amsterdam/Hamburg) will operate from/to Wörgl, supplemented by rail replacement buses between Innsbruck and Wörgl.

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