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Driving Innovation in European Rail: voestalpine Railway Systems’ Key Role in EU Rail FA3

2026-01-22 | 

voestalpine Railway Systems is proud to be a founding member of EU Rail FA3, a major European research and innovation initiative aimed at making rail transport the most sustainable, cost-efficient, and competitive mode of transportation across the continent. The project focuses on creating a single European rail market through advanced technologies, interoperability, and digitalization.

Our Mission in EU Rail FA3

As the global leader and system house for railway infrastructure, voestalpine Railway Systems contributes its expertise in turnout technology and track systems to address critical challenges in rail operations. Our goal: improve availability, extend lifecycle performance, and reduce maintenance needs—ensuring uninterrupted 24/7 operations for customers.

Innovative Use Cases Driving Change

Within EU Rail FA3, voestalpine Railway Systems plays a key role in several groundbreaking Use Cases:

UC11 – Spain: 

Development and testing of high-speed and mixed-traffic turnouts in the ADIF network, combined with advanced monitoring solutions for real-time performance insights.

  • Condition-based monitoring – Continuous monitoring of turnouts to determine their current condition and provide early warning of impending defects, failures, etc.

UC16 – Austria:

Creation of the “Green Turnout” at our Zeltweg plant, including 3D simulations, time-lapse assembly, and installation in Launsdorf. This innovation sets new standards for sustainability and lifecycle cost optimization. 

  • Turnout tailored to customer requirements with improved CO2 balance and optimized sinking and ballast protection. This turnout focuses on reducing the maintenance measure of tamping.

UC17 – Germany:

Collaboration with RWTH Aachen on welding innovations for turnout components, ensuring maximum durability and precision. 

  • Development of an additive manufacturing process for repairing switch points.

UC18 – Austria:

Advanced repair welding techniques for critical turnout parts with our research partner JOANNEUM RESEARCH, extending component life and reducing resource consumption. 

  • Automation of the repair welding process on switch points with the aim of improving quality while reducing the time required.

Shaping the Future of Rail

Through these projects, voestalpine Railway Systems reinforces its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and digitalization in rail infrastructure. Together with our partners, we are paving the way for a smarter, greener, and more efficient European rail system.

Learn more about our role in EU Rail FA3