Headquartered in Donawitz, Styria, the company equipped the line—including its tunnel section—with approximately 290 kilometers of ultra-long premium rails, 235 high-tech turnouts, as well as locking and monitoring systems. At the heart of the project is the 33-kilometer Koralm Tunnel, the longest railway tunnel in Austria and the sixth longest in the world, forming the most critical section of the route.
ÖBB turned once again to Voestalpine’s expertise
The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) once again chose Voestalpine Railway Systems for the project’s infrastructure implementation. Commenting on the completion of the project, Voestalpine AG CEO Herbert Eibensteiner said; “The launch of the Koralmbahn creates new opportunities not only for passengers in Southern Austria but also for the region’s economy. We are proud to have contributed to one of Europe’s most important infrastructure projects.”
Ultra-long rails and smart turnouts installed on site
The 120-meter rails, designed for speeds of up to 250 km/h, were manufactured at the company’s modern rail rolling mill in Donawitz and delivered to the installation sites on schedule. Thanks to their high performance, these rails offer a longer service life and lower maintenance costs.
The advanced turnout systems and digital monitoring solutions were produced at Voestalpine’s facility in Zeltweg, Styria. Some of the turnouts were also manufactured at the Weichenwerk Wörth plant in Lower Austria, a joint venture between Voestalpine and ÖBB.
Pilot deployment of digital monitoring systems
Voestalpine Railway Systems’ fully digital monitoring technologies provide continuous oversight of the track infrastructure’s condition. These systems both enhance safety and facilitate predictive maintenance. Voestalpine AG Management Board Member Franz Kainersdorfer commented on the collaboration:
“ÖBB has once again shown that it is open to testing new technologies at an early stage. The monitoring system we implemented on the Koralmbahn marks the beginning of a new era in digital track-condition monitoring.”
Voestalpine strengthens its position in global infrastructure projects
In addition to this major project in Austria, the company has been a key partner in many large-scale rail infrastructure initiatives worldwide. Voestalpine Railway Systems previously supplied rails and turnout systems for Switzerland’s Gotthard Base Tunnel, the country’s longest railway tunnel. The group serves railway operators across a wide geographical area—from Europe and the Middle East to North America and Asia.
In the 2024/25 financial year, the company generated EUR 2.2 billion in revenue with around 8.400 employees, including 1.300 in Austria.
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