Railway operations in Graz commence from May, lasting a month.

Railway operations in Graz commence from May, lasting a month.

Heads Up, Graz! Massive Tram Overhaul Ahead

Get ready, Graz! From May to September 2025, it's all about the trams. The city center's tram lines are set for a major makeover, with Holding Graz announcing extensive replacement bus service to keep things running smoothly.

The plan? Revamp the Neutor line, relieve the Herrengasse traffic, and get the city tram system ready for the Koralmbahn's arrival. This ambitious project might be the city's most challenging tram renovation in almost 150 years, as Mark Perz, the Holding Graz board director, predicts.

Prepare for longer travel times during the revamp. From May 24 to September 7, the tracks from Vorbeckgasse to Annenstraße will undergo complexity track connections and infrastructure renewals. As a result, lines 1, 4, 6, and 7 will temporarily switch to replacement bus service between Jakominiplatz and Alte Poststraße.

Before that, from May 3 to 23, the western tracks to Remise 3 will be replaced. Lines 4 and 7 will be affected, with replacement bus service provided between Laudongasse and Reininghaus or Wetzelsdorf.

Things heat up from May 24 to July 4, as the connection to Vorbeckgasse/Annenstraße is completed, new switches are installed in Remise 3, and the main station underpass is renovated. From July 5 to September 7, work continues in the area of Vorbeckgasse/Annenstraße, with the track triangle at Eggenberger Straße/Asperngasse being renewed and the stops at Jakominiplatz expanded.

To tackle the replacement bus service, Holding Graz has rented ten buses (approx. €1 million), with more than 160 buses in operation during the renovation. The total cost of the Neutor line is estimated at around €38 million, with each contributing approximately a third—federal government, state, and city.

The effort culminates in the arrival of new Alstom Flexity trams, set to expand the fleet and begin passenger service in early 2026, once the construction work is completed. So, hang in there, Graz! The future of your trams is on its way.

Dig Deeper

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In brief, lines 4 and 7 will terminate at Laudongasse between 3–23 May 2025, with replacement bus lines E4 (Laudongasse → Reininghaus) and E7 (Laudongasse → Wetzelsdorf) in operation[1]. The renovation focuses on renewing the western tram switch system to depot 3 along Eggenberger Straße (between Asperngasse and Alte Poststraße)[1]. Traffic flow will change on Eggenberger Straße and Daungasse sections to be one-way towards the city center, and tram routing will adjust so that lines 4/7 from the city will terminate at Laudongasse while buses operate beyond this point[1]. Replacement bus stops for Alte Poststraße will be adjusted (exact locations unspecified)[1]. The broader Graz construction period extends to September 2025, but specifics beyond May remain provisional as of February 2025[1].

Other European rail replacements in mid-2025 include Italy’s Simplon route (Domodossola–Milan) with full closures in May, June–July, and August–September[2], Heart of Wales Line with buses replacing trains from 6–23 May[3], and Seven Railway Tunnel closure from 9–20 June affecting Bristol/Swindon–South Wales services[3].

1. The Neutor tram line in Graz, set to undergo a major renovation from May to September 2025, will temporarily switch to replacement bus service between Laudongasse and Alte Poststraße due to the disentanglement of the western tracks to Remise 3.
2. The public-transit industry in Graz is preparing for an ambitious tram overhaul in 2025, with the completed disentanglement of the Neutor line aimed at relieving traffic in Herrengasse and readying the city's tram system for the arrival of the Koralmbahn.
3. To facilitate the vast tram renovation, the city's finance department has increased its spending on replacement bus services, renting ten buses at approximately €1 million and operating more than 160 buses during the construction period.
4. The completion of the Neutor line revamp will pave the way for the arrival of new Alstom Flexity trams in early 2026, granting an expansion to the city's transportation fleet and commencing passenger services once the construction work is completed.
5. With the start of the challenging tram renovation in May 2025, the city of Graz is embarking on one of its most significant tram makeovers in nearly 150 years, a decision that reflects the city's commitment to improving its public-transit system and sustainable transportation infrastructure.

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