Vienna, 19 April 2024: The S-LINK infrastructure project, which is currently in its planning stage and is intended to connect the city centre of Salzburg with the outskirts in future, achieved an important breakthrough when the licence was issued for it. Led by Michael Hecht and Josef Peer, Fellner Wratzfeld & Partner (fwp) advised the regional transport provider, Salzburger Regionalstadtbahn Projektgesellschaft mbH, on this promising project. 

Led by Michael Hecht and Josef Peer, fwp is supporting the S-LINK infrastructure project, which from 2028 onwards is intended to connect the City of Salzburg with the surrounding areas in the north and run as far as Hallein in the south. By obtaining the licence from the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) the project managed to reach an important milestone last week. The decision issued by the Ministry comprises the licence to build and operate the extension of the local railway. As a result, the transport assumptions, the cost/benefit analysis, and thus, the profitability of the project have been confirmed by the highest railway authority. In addition, the Ministry's decision affirmed the financing of the project, 50% of which will be borne by the Federal Government. 

Monika Stöggl, Head of the Legal Department of the transport provider, Salzburger Regionalstadtbahn Projektgesellschaft mbH, is very pleased with the positive development in the implementation of S-LINK: "Obtaining the licence from the BMK is an important step for us. In addition, the decision confirms the public interest in the project, its profitability and partial financing by the Federal Government."

"The S-LINK project constitutes a significant step in terms of urban and regional transport. By means of the licence and the financing commitment we have reached an important milestone for the implementation of the project", says fwp partner Michael Hecht, who provided legal advice to Salzburger Regionalstadtbahn Projektgesellschaft mbH together with his team, comprised, among others, of fwp attorney Josef Peer and fwp attorney Christina Klapf. 

The S-LINK project in Salzburg, formerly known as Salzburg.Regional.Stadt.Bahn, marks important progress in public infrastructure. The City of Salzburg is intended to be connected to the surrounding regions through a state-of-the-art regional railway system and will thus redefine commuting for some 60,000 Salzburg citizens. For more info on S-LINK see https://www.s-link.at/