Austrian railway electrification

Among the various plans to substitute electricity for coal in Austria, since Austria is dependent on foreign sources for three-fourths of its coal supply, the development of water power for the electrification of railways is important. The coal needed for all steam-operated railwaysin Austria is estimated at 4,700,000 metric tons per year (when operating at full capacity) and this amounts to about one-fourth of the total coal requirements of the country. Over one-half of the amount of coal consumed by the railways can be saved by the utilization of electric power, much of which is yet to be developed.