A €91.9 million contract for the 4-track Linz-Marchtrenk Railway Extension in Austria has been secured by Granit Gesellschaft.
21 Oct 2025
The construction company Granit Gesellschaft mbH has been awarded a €91.93 million contract by Austria's ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG for the second phase of the Western Railway's 4-track expansion between Linz and Marchtrenk. A major step towards improving Austria's rail infrastructure, the contract, which was finalised on August 26, 2025, supports both freight and passenger capacity along this crucial corridor.Core Content:Engineering structures and open-line construction services for Construction Phase 2, specifically along km 193,900 to km 203,500, are covered by the awarded contract. This segment is a part of the larger Western Railway 4-track expansion project, which is a major endeavour to increase safety and efficiency on one of the busiest railway lines in Austria.The public enterprise in charge of Austria's rail system, ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG, held an open process under ProVia-ID 128777. Granit Gesellschaft mbH emerged as the successful bidder out of six electronic tenders. There were no submissions from businesses outside of the European Economic Area or from micro-, small-, or medium-sized businesses.Large-scale infrastructure projects are the speciality of Granit Gesellschaft mbH, a prominent Austrian construction company with its headquarters located in Graz. The firm is qualified to carry out engineering projects involving bridges, trackbeds, and related civil structures necessary for contemporary rail operations because of its vast experience in railway construction.Significant industrial and economic benefits, such as increased transportation efficiency and shortened passenger and freight travel times, are anticipated from the contract. Additionally, it will support Austria's larger objective of sustainable, high-capacity rail transport and create jobs locally. In order to ensure safety, durability, and compliance with EU directives on public works (Directive 2014/25/EU), technical specifications emphasise the necessity of precise engineering work along the West route. Conclusion: An important step in Austria's railway modernisation efforts is the 4-track extension between Linz and Marchtrenk. Construction is anticipated to proceed smoothly under Granit Gesellschaft mbH's leadership, opening the way for later stages of the Western Railway expansion. Project milestones, which are expected to enhance Austria's standing as a central European hub for high-speed, high-capacity rail transport, will be closely watched by industry stakeholders as work moves forward. Tags:# Austria, #Linz, #Marchtrenk, #railway, #railwayconstruction, #ÖBB-InfrastrukturAG, #GranitGesellschaft, #4-track railway expansion, #contractaward, #tenderresults, #governmentcontracts, #railwayinfrastructure, #civilengineering, #publicprocurement
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Austria Awards Tobacco Shop Concession in Gerasdorf to Sandra Machoritsch
21 Oct 2025
Vienna, Austria - October 2, 2025: The Monopoly Administration for Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland (Monopolverwaltung für Wien, Niederösterreich und Burgenland) has awarded a concession for the operation of a tobacco shop at Gerasdorfer Straße 338, 2201 Gerasdorf, to Sandra Machoritsch.The announcement was published in the Official Journal of the European Union under notice number 644854-2025 (OJ S 189/2025). The concession, valued at approximately EUR 103.66 million (excluding VAT), is granted under Austria’s Tobacco Monopoly Act (Tabakmonopolgesetz) and aims to maintain the regulated and socially responsible distribution of tobacco products.Contract OverviewThe awarded concession allows the independent operation of a licensed tobacco shop at the Gerasdorf location. The contract falls under the category of retail trade services (CPV 55900000) and was processed under the standard regime according to Directive 2014/23/EU, which governs concession contracts in EU member states.The Monopoly Administration-a public body supervised by the Austrian central government-acts as the contracting entity responsible for overseeing tobacco distribution in the regions of Vienna, Lower Austria, and Burgenland. Its activities primarily support social protection goals, with concessions often aimed at promoting small business entrepreneurship and inclusion.Direct Award JustificationThe concession was awarded directly to Machoritsch due to exclusive rights under § 22 (3) No. 3 lit c BVergGKonz 2018 in conjunction with § 27 of the Tobacco Monopoly Act (TabMG 1996). According to the procurement notice, “the service in question can only be provided by a contractor due to existing exclusive rights” - making a competitive tender procedure unnecessary.This approach aligns with Austria’s legal framework that grants exclusive rights for tobacco retail operations to specific license holders authorized by the Monopoly Administration.Social and Economic ContextAustria’s tobacco monopoly system is a long-standing element of its social economy, providing licensed retail opportunities often aimed at supporting people with disabilities and small entrepreneurs. Each concession ensures that tobacco products are sold under controlled, legally compliant, and socially responsible conditions.The new Gerasdorf tobacco shop concession awarded to Sandra Machoritsch reinforces the government’s commitment to maintaining this balance between public regulation and small business empowerment, contributing to local commerce and employment stability within the Vienna Countryside/Northern Part (AT126) region.Tags: Austria tenders, Contract award, tobacco monopoly, concession award, Gerasdorf, Monopolverwaltung Wien, BVergGKonz 2018, TabMG 1996, EU procurement, Sandra Machoritsch, retail trade services, Austrian concessions
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