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History
Graz-Köflacher Eisenbahn was one of the first coal railways in the former Austrian-Hungarian monarchy. Today it is the largest public private railway in Austria.
In 1854 the Voitsberg-Köflach-Lankowitzer Steinkohlengewerkschaft was established. The company was soon in demand of a railway for the transportation of the lignite.
In April 1957 the construction of the standard gauged railway was begun. The official opening of the railway took place on 3. April 1860.
In connection with the opening of the lignite depot in the area of Eibiswald and Steyeregg GKB decided to construct a connecting line from Lieboch to Wies. Due to business and technical problems GKB was facing a financial crisis. Consequently on 28. June 1878 it was decided to hand over the service to K.k. private Südbahngesellschaft for a period of 50 years. The handing over took place on 1. September 1878. On 27. NOvember 1892 STeiemärkisken Landesbahn opened a narrow-gauged railway from Preding-Wieselsdorf to Stainz. The operation of this railway was also taken over by K.k. priv. Südbahngesellschaft.
The effects of world war I and missing interests from the Südbahngesellschaft to continue operations of the GKB and finally the closing of the Südbanhgesellschaft resulted in the service being taken over by ôsterreichischen Bundesbahnen (BBÖ) on 1. January 1924. BBÔ did not obtain the expected results of the operation which led to a decision that GKB again was to take over the operation of the railway.
Since 1928 ÖAM had the majority of shares. In 1930 ÖAM took over Via GKB the majority of shares for the Sulmtalbahn AG. From 1. april 1930 GKB took over the service of this branch line.
The outbreak of world war II meant an increase in the demand for transports of passengers as well as goods. Therefore various projects were lauched to ensure an improved connection with Kärtnten which led to the construction of the Koralmtunnel.
After a shorttimed alteration of the name in 1944 to "Steirische Bergbau- und Eisenbahngesellschaft" (due to the incorporation in "Reichwerke AG für Erzbergbau und Hüttenwesen Hermann Göring") the company was given back the old name of GKB after the collapse of the German Reich in 1945.
As a consequense of the law of nationalisation the property rights of the railway went over to the state. The joint companyship with ÔAM was continued and through the amalgamation of ÖAMS with VÖEST Linz in 1974 GKB was being a partner of the company Vöest-Alpine AG. Since then GKB was incorporated into ôsterreichischen Bergbau-Holding AG (ÔBAG), which is a partner of the "Østerreichischen Industrie-Holding AG (ÔiAG). Since medium 1989 GKB was once more carried on as a limited liabity company. With effect from 1. January 1998 GKB was divided in two legally independent companies, one being Graz-Köflacher Eisenbahn GmbH (GKE) the second GKB-Bergbau GmbH. From June 1998 all property rights were again taken over by the state.
Since January 2004 the Company is named Graz-Köflacher Bahn und Busbetried GmbH (GKB).
Today GKB is transporting about 4 million passengers by train and about 6 millions by busses. Within the traffic company Steirmark GKB is one of the largest partners.
Link: www.gke.at/
Line map of
Graz Köflacher Bahn:
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