Railway accessibility improvements underway in Germany and Austria

Modernization efforts are underway to improve railway accessibility in Germany and Austria. In Freiburg, Germany, Deutsche Bahn has begun a project to upgrade the main station (Hauptbahnhof) to be more barrier-free and comfortable. The project, estimated to cost approximately 36.7 million euros, involves installing five new elevators in the northern passenger underpass, extending the underpass, and renewing platforms 3, 4, and 5. The goal is to ensure all major platforms are step-free by December 2028. Funding is provided by Deutsche Bahn, the federal government, the state of Baden-Württemberg, and local regional and city authorities.

In Styria, Austria, challenges regarding station accessibility persist. An ÖBB survey from November 2025 indicated that 27 stations in the region are not accessible to users of electric or mechanical wheelchairs. While the ÖBB states that accessibility is a priority and that current improvements are being implemented based on passenger volume, disability advocates argue that progress is too slow. Currently, approximately 44 percent of stations in Austria are barrier-free, serving roughly 88 percent of total passengers.