Although first proposed in 1895, the 11 km. long standard gauge branch from Peggau-Deutschfeistritz to Übelbach Hü was not completed until after the end of the Great War, in 1919. Making a connection as it does with the ÖBB main line between Bruck an der Mür and Graz, the branch was electrified on the main line voltage of 15kV a.c. The line departs from a bay platform at the main line station, which is much more imposing than one expects for a small town. It runs south over the River Mur, before turning and running in a generally north-westerly direction through a very rural landscape, calling at ten halts to its' destination. There is a small steep climb from the valley floor to reach Übelbach Hü, the terminus, which like all the halts, is unmanned. The line is followed for much of its' length by the A9 motorway. There are interchange sidings at the main line station, although regular freight does not seem to run on the branch. Since 1945 the line has been run by Steiermarkische Landesbahnen, the transport section of the regional authority. Services are maintained by two second-hand electric multiple units, ET14 with trailer ES25, and ET15 "Zurich" with trailer ES24, built by SWS in 1955 and w hich previously belonged to the Swiss railway company SZU. Despite having been comprehensivly overhauled since purchase, including the provision of new seating and lighting in the 44 (formerly 48) seat passenger compartment, the power units betray their previous use by the line diagrams still to be seen inside there, showing the route running between Zurich Hbf., and Sihlbrugg. Older vehicles on the line include ET11, a 1936 - built EMU previously owned by BBÖ as ET 11.01, later ÖBB and numbered 4042.01, and single unit electric railcar ET 13, built in 1949 by SWS for the SOB railway in Switzerland, and bought by StLB in 1968. This stock is kept on sidings outside the depot at Übelbach together with trailers EB 21 and EB 22, formerly ÖBB 6042.01, and a former SBB coach respectivly.

ET 11 on an afternoon service in Peggau station. The service runs out into open country befre climbing to Übelbach. Another photo on the cover of Journal 20 Video From the Cross Country section (486K 24 secs WMV) for you to feel the rural atmosphere of the line as ET11 heads to Ublebach on 26 August 1994. And a second clip, into the hills (336K 16 secs WMV) (Ken Ferguson)

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