Stadler intends to build a new test and maintenance centre in Austria

In mid-March this year, AGRANA, an Austrian company focused on agriculture and industry, announced that it was ending production at the sugar factory in Leopoldsdorf im Marchfelde (east of Wien, linked in the Siebenbrunn-Leopoldsdorf station to the Marchegger Ostbahn). Just a few weeks later, the first positive signals appeared that a new use could be found for part of the site. On 3 April 2025, AGRANA and Stadler Austria signed, in the presence of the Niederösterreich  governor, a declaration of intent to lease parts of the sugar factory.

As a first step, Stadler will move its current commissioning and test facility for ÖBB double-deck EMUs and for other orders from the current Zwentendorf (Dürnrohr) location to Leopoldsdorf. The next phase of the project will include the construction of a service base for Austrian customers, for which the location in Leopoldsdorf, with its infrastructure and location, is ideal. Since the capacities of the existing test centres for rolling stock in Europe are no longer sufficient, work is underway to secure financing for the creation of a new test centre in Leopoldsdorf.

On the photo from the signing of the letter of intent between AGRANA and Stadler Austria are (from left to right): Christian Diewald, Managing Director of Stadler Austria, Peter Spuhler, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Stadler Rail, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Governor of Niederösterreich, and Stephan Büttner, CEO of AGRANA. Participants hold a diagram showing a future test circuit with a test base in the area of the (today's) sugar factory and connected to the Wien - Marchegg line.

Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Governor of Niederösterreich (Lower Austria), emphasizes: “It is still too early to celebrate, but I am sure that two companies have come together that are willing to develop this area further. The location in Leopoldsdorf would be ideal for the maintenance, testing and development of rolling stock. Of course, a lot of preparatory work needs to be done for such a complex project, but it would be ideal if new jobs and added value were created here. This would be long-term security for the Marchfeld region, as Stadler and AGRANA are negotiating a lease agreement for three decades.”

Christian Diewald, CEO of Stadler Austria, emphasizes: “Stadler’s products and services are in demand in Austria and around the world, which is why we have big plans for the location. The negotiations are very promising and we would like to be able to conclude them quickly. In any case, we are moving quickly, with the first step being the assessment of the land for the first phase.”

Stephan Büttner, CEO of AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG, said: “AGRANA will continue to use the Leopoldsdorf plant as a logistics center. We would like Stadler Austria to be our neighbor there. We have set ourselves a strict timetable and are confident that we will achieve a positive result. It is also important to us that at least some of the employees affected by the closure of the sugar factory have the opportunity to find new jobs in their place of residence.”

On 21 July 2025, Niederösterreich added: “We can state that for such a complex project, a number of preparatory steps must be successfully completed - and that is exactly what is currently happening. Negotiations between AGRANA and Stadler Austria are proceeding constructively. Ecoplus, the Lower Austrian trade agency is supporting this process comprehensively and intensively. All with the clear aim of creating new jobs and added value in Leopoldsdorf.”