ÖBB breaks ground on Vienna's first employee housing in 50 years

ÖBB has begun construction on 121 new apartments for employees in Vienna's 'Neues Landgut' district. The project, named ELFI im Zehnten, marks the company's first watch development in nearly half a century. A groundbreaking ceremony last week included Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler, Transport Minister Peter Hanke, and senior ÖBB officials.

The apartments will sit on a 5,200-square-metre plot near Vienna Central Station. Designed with families in mind, they will feature flexible layouts, sustainable building materials, and rent tiers based on income. Around one-fifth of the units will cater specifically to shift workers, offering improved sound insulation and adjustable lighting.

The Neues Landgut area is evolving into a mixed-use urban quarter. Alongside housing, plans include schools, parks, and community spaces, developed in collaboration with the City of Vienna. ÖBB has also announced further employee housing projects in the city, with sites earmarked at Novaragasse, Zirkusgasse, and Große Stadtgutgasse.

Completion of the ELFI im Zehnten apartments is scheduled for 2028. The initiative signals ÖBB's renewed focus on providing affordable, modern housing for its workforce after decades without new developments.

The first phase of construction is now underway. Once finished, the apartments will offer staff access to centrally located, purpose-built homes. ÖBB's broader housing programme suggests more projects could follow in Vienna, though details on expansion to other Austrian cities remain unclear.