The Gotha site is focused firmly on the future. With a new social building, sustainable building technology and the establishment of the Railway Systems Academy, Campus Gotha, voestalpine Turnout Technology Germany combines modern working conditions with technical expertise and hands-on knowledge transfer. The new social building was officially inaugurated on November 7, 2026.

The test track at the Donawitz plant site is far more than just a section of track. Spanning 54 meters, Timna Gschwandl and her team use state-of-the-art sensor technology to investigate how track superstructure systems can be made more efficient, more durable, and more sustainable.

Increasing rail wear, complex maintenance procedures, and growing demands for noise reduction and operational availability are characteristic challenges in the operation of tram and light rail systems. With "New Urban Track," voestalpine Railway Systems has created a newly developed track superstructure system for embedded track – tailored specifically to the requirements of modern tram networks.

A major success for Timna Gschwandl of voestalpine Rail Technology, a subsidiary of voestalpine Railway Systems: the project manager of the test track in Donawitz has been awarded the individual prize at the Bahnindustrie Award 2026. The jury recognized her outstanding achievements in the development and implementation of an innovative test track project that makes an important contribution to the sustainable advancement of railway infrastructure. 

Reliable turnouts are a key requirement for safe and efficient railway operations. With ECOSTAR 5.0, voestalpine Railway Systems offers a modern electro-hydraulic switch machine that combines high reliability, flexible application options, and easy maintenance. In the zentrak ECOSTAR 5.0 configuration, the switch machine is enhanced by zentrak SWITCH CONDITION MONITORING, enabling continuous monitoring of condition data to support a predictive maintenance approach. 

Four days of innovation, intensive expert discussions and impressive live demonstrations: At InnoTrans 2026, voestalpine Railway Systems showcased integrated solutions for the railway infrastructure of tomorrow. The focus was on product innovations, digital technologies, and sustainable concepts designed to enhance the availability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of railway infrastructure over its entire lifecycle. 

Less track downtime, lower maintenance effort and extended turnout service life. These are the key benefits of the new crossing solutions PITSTOP and IMPACT, which voestalpine Railway Systems will present for the first time at InnoTrans 2026. 

Wheelset bearings are among the safety-critical components of a train. Their condition affects not only operational safety but also maintenance costs and vehicle availability. In the field of wheel set monitoring, voestalpine Railway Systems has therefore developed zentrak ACOUSTIC MONITORING SENSOR. This highly sensitive measurement system evaluates acoustic signals to precisely analyze the condition of rotating bearing components during operation and to detect damage at an early stage. 

At this year's InnoTrans in Berlin, voestalpine Railway Systems is presenting the universal zentrak OBJECT CONTROLLER PLATFORM (UNIOC). Developed according to the European standard EULYNX, zentrak UNIOC demonstrates how modern signalling technology can be more easily integrated, operated, and expanded.

voestalpine is further expanding its global presence in the Railway Systems business segment and is building a new production facility for high-quality turnout and rail components in Thorold, Ontario (Canada). At the same time, a long-term supply agreement for the locally manufactured turnout systems was signed with Canadian National (CN), Canada’s largest freight rail company. 

At this year's InnoTrans in Berlin, voestalpine Railway Systems is presenting two solutions for more efficient and reliable railway operations on high speed lines: the intelligent diagnostic system zentrak SWITCH CONDITION MONITORING (SCM) and the intelligent switch machine zentrak ECOSTAR 5.0. When used in combination as an intelligent switch drive system, it helps to monitor its condition more effectively, plan maintenance tasks proactively and significantly increase the track’s availability. 

When constructing modern slab tracks, precision, efficiency, and short construction times are crucial. However, complex installation steps, rework, and potential damage to components can delay projects and incur additional costs. With Cast Fix and the Fastening System 300, voestalpine Railway Systems has developed two solutions that simplify installation while simultaneously increasing the quality and reliability of the infrastructure.

Metro networks worldwide are facing ever-increasing demands: passenger numbers are rising, trains are running at shorter intervals, and maintenance work must be carried out within increasingly tight timeframes. At InnoTrans 2026, voestalpine Railway Systems will demonstrate how a modern, low-maintenance infrastructure can meet these challenges with its ESS25 embedded sleeper system and the zentrak UNISTAR HR switch setting system. As a perfectly coordinated system solution, both products combine high reliability, flexible installation options, and ease of installation. 

With its zentrak OBJECT CONTROLLER PLATFORM (UNIOC), voestalpine Railway Systems has developed a unified platform for controlling and monitoring a wide range of railway field elements. Designed to support the EULYNX standard, the platform combines functional safety, cybersecurity and operational flexibility within a common architecture.

As the railway industry continues its digital transformation, the demand for standardized solutions that enable seamless interaction between different systems is growing. EULYNX has emerged as one of the key standards for modern signalling and control technology. With its zentrak UniAC[2] axle counting system, voestalpine Railway Systems contributes to this development by providing a high-performance train detection solution for the railway infrastructure of the future.

Growing expectations regarding availability, operational efficiency, and maintainability are driving the modernization of signalling and control systems. At the same time, infrastructure managers are looking for more flexible solutions that allow them to integrate and operate components from different suppliers more easily. One of the key developments supporting this transition is EULYNX.  

At InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin, voestalpine Railway Systems will present its "New Urban Track" system solution, a newly developed track superstructure system for trams and light rail systems. The integrated system was specifically designed for embedded tracks in urban areas and addresses key challenges such as high wear, costly maintenance, and increasing demands for availability, noise, and vibration reduction.

At InnoTrans 2026 in September, voestalpine Railway Systems will present the Keyway Tie. This concrete tie, specially developed for individual replacement of sleepers in wooden sleeper tracks, features an integrated fastening system and combines the advantages of concrete and wood in a single solution. It ensures greater stability, a longer track lifespan, and enables phased modernization without costly modifications. It can be used in freight traffic as well as in urban and mixed traffic. 

The new virtual tour is now available online and, for the first time, offers a concise, digital overview of key areas of voestalpine’s Leoben-Donawitz site – including the rail rolling mill of voestalpine Railway Systems. In a modern interface, users can interactively explore various stations and gain a realistic impression of our production environment.