Brenner Tunnel and New Trains End Border Change for Italy‑Austria Passengers

Alstom is completing a fleet of 22 Coradia Stream multisystem trains ordered jointly by the South Tyrol transport authority (STA) and Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). The vehicles can operate on both Italian and Austrian electrification systems, allowing a seamless hourly service from Innsbruck to Bolzano and onward to Merano and Malles starting in mid‑2027, eliminating the need for passengers to change trains at the Brenner border.

The Brenner Base Tunnel, a new low‑level railway under the Alps, is slated to enter service in the next decade, with a target around 2032. Construction milestones include the removal of the diaphragm between the Italian and Austrian sections in July 2026. Once operational, the tunnel will provide a flatter, faster route—up to 200 km/h for passenger trains—and reduce travel times between Fortezza (Italy) and Innsbruck. It will also increase freight capacity, shifting more cargo from road to rail and lowering heavy‑vehicle traffic on the Brenner highway.