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voestalpine Railway Systems

Sustainable Railway Infrastructure Solutions

Sustainable Performance on Track®

At voestalpine Railway Systems we take our social and environmental responsibilities seriously. As the global leader for railway infrastructure system solutions, we understand the impact our products have on society and the environment. We are dedicated to providing durable solutions that enable the operation of sustainable transport systems. Our commitment to ethical and legal conduct is governed by the voestalpine Code of Conduct, ensuring impeccable actions throughout our company and supply chains. 

Why we need sustainable mobility solutions

In a world shaped by urbanization, digitalization, globalization, and demographic shifts, the need for sustainable mobility solutions has never been more pressing. As the demand for mobility driven by these megatrends continues to grow, it is imperative to address the challenges of climate change and resource depletion head-on.

Discover our commitment to eco-friendly railway infrastructure solutions

We are proud to lead the way in providing sustainable railway solutions that drive environmental responsibility, ensure longevity and uphold the highest industry standards. Our focus on sustainability is guided by three pillars:

Our sustainability pillars

  • Our path to a green future.

    One electric arc furnace in both Linz and Donawitz will go into operation at the start of 2027. Integrating the two green electricity-powered EAFs into steel production makes it possible to increase the use of scrap, enabling a reduction of around 30% of annual CO₂ emissions compared to the baseline year 2019. This corresponds to savings of 3 to 4 million tons of CO2 per year, or nearly 5% of national emissions. That makes greentec steel Austria’s largest climate protection program.

    Learn more about greentec steel

  • We understand the importance of long-lasting rail solutions. By investing in cutting-edge engineering and design, we develop railway infrastructure systems that withstand the test of time, reducing maintenance costs and ensuring reliable performance for decades.

  • As proof of our commitment to sustainability, we have received various certifications and awards that recognize our efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions and energy consumption as well as to optimize working conditions. These certifications reflect our commitment to complying with international environmental and safety standards and to surpass them through innovation, giving you peace of mind knowing you are partnering with an industry leader in sustainable rail solutions.

sustainability voestalpine railway systems

With decades of experience and continuous innovation, voestalpine Railway Systems has achieved remarkable milestones on our sustainability journey. We have implemented innovative products in numerous railway projects worldwide that increase the performance of rails and thus reduce CO₂ emissions. By focusing on sustainability, we have succeeded in extending the service life of rail infrastructure and providing our customers with cost efficiency and product reliability.

Our products are designed to contribute to a circular economy. By selecting the optimal rail or turnout, we ensure the longest possible service life, which not only maximizes efficiency, but also enables significant CO2 reduction potential throughout the product lifecycle.

Examples of special location-based activities

At our Donawitz site, we generate 150 GWh of residual heat per year. This energy is used by 10,000 households, resulting in significant sustainability benefits. The use of this residual heat represents an annual reduction of 15 million Nm³ of natural gas and 30,000 tons of CO2, demonstrating our commitment to energy efficiency and community support.

At our Zeltweg site, through efficiency measures on machines and infrastructure systems, thermal renovation of buildings, and the use of electricity and heating energy from renewable sources, we have already been able to reduce non‑biogenic greenhouse gas emissions in Scope 1+2 by around 90 % compared to the baseline year 1996.

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)

Our Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) provide transparent and reliable insights into the environmental impact of our products throughout their life cycle, underscoring our commitment to designing railway infrastructure in a sustainable and responsible manner.

EPDs are independently verified environmental product declarations that provide a basis for ecological assessment and comparability and are freely available in the databases of the respective EPD program holders.

For a compact overview, you will find all current EPDs of the voestalpine Railway Systems Group below. The portfolio will continue to be updated and expanded in the future. We are happy to assist you with any questions you may have.

The 100% circular rail in a closed loop

In a unique project, we used our TechMet electric induction furnace to produce a bloom for subsequent rail production using 100%* rail scrap from the track.

Sustainable and recycled, our path to a climate neutral and circular rail infrastructure.

 

*Only a few alloying elements need to be added due to the process.

zentrak - the intelligent, conscious and living railway ecosystem

 

Our zentrak products can be used to increase safety in rail transport, reduce track downtime and associated delays, and extend the service life of railway systems—that sounds like sustainability to us!

More about zentrak

Looking to the future

We are not satisfied with what we have achieved, but strive for continuous improvement. One step ahead. One of our goals for the future is to further improve the sustainability of our products and services through advanced research and development. Together with industry partners, we aim to drive the adoption of sustainable rail infrastructure solutions on a global scale, creating a greener and more connected rail network.

Sustainability

Join us in pioneering sustainable railway solutions

Sustainability is at the core of everything we do at voestalpine Railway Systems. By partnering with us you become part of a global movement toward a greener and more sustainable future. Contact our team today to discuss how our cutting-edge solutions can transform your railway projects while preserving the planet for future generations.

Frequently Asked Questions

    • Rail and reinforcing steel made with the new electric arc furnace route with a high scrap content (Electric Arc Furnace = EAF; commissioning starting in 2027),
    • CEMII and CEMIII-based concrete sleepers,
    • geothermal energy self-sufficient point heating solutions

    • The production of rails (at voestalpine Rail Technology GmbH in Donawitz), where our experts were able to achieve an additional 2,300 MWh per year in natural gas and electricity savings through efficiency improvement measures (e.g., in the walking beam furnace, in the rolling mill drives, etc.), resulting in approximately 375 tons of CO₂ savings per year.
    • The production of switch blade forgings at the Zeltweg site is based on electric induction heating, which is supplied by the on‑site small hydropower plant.
    • At our Zeltweg site, efficiency measures on machines and infrastructure systems, thermal renovation of buildings, and the use of electricity and heating energy from renewable sources have already enabled us to reduce non‑biogenic greenhouse gas emissions in Scope 1+2 by around 90% compared to the baseline year 1996.
    • Further examples of measures at various sites — for instance related to photovoltaic activities, biomass heating, building renovations, as well as noise and dust reduction — can be found in our HSEE Report (Chapter 10).

  • As few CO₂ emissions as possible during sourcing and production – combined with maximum usable service life in order to leverage the generated CO₂ emissions for as long as possible.

    • Reduce the environmental footprint of products and systems
    • Adherence to sustainability criteria throughout the supply chain
    • Low-maintenance, durable products that can be recycled or reused as part of a circular economy when they need to be replaced.

    • HSH heat treatment for durable rail quality
    • greentec steel - the voestalpine Group's ambitious and feasible step-by-step plan, our contribution to achieving the climate targets. Austria's largest climate protection program, becoming effective from 2027 onward.

  • AI-supported sensor systems from the signaling division of voestalpine Railway Systems are increasingly contributing to the further transformation and optimization of durable and low-maintenance products.

Sustainable Performance on Track®: Start your journey towards sustainable rail solutions with voestalpine Railway Systems. Together we can make a difference.