ÖBB Sets New International Standards with Digital Interlockings

(Berlin, 22. September 2026) - ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG has successfully concluded one of the most significant railway signaling procurement processes of recent decades. Following a comprehensive multi-year competitive tendering process based on the best-value principle, framework agreements for new Digital Interlockings (DSTW) have been awarded to Siemens Mobility and Hitachi Rail. With a combined total contract value of approximately EUR 2.6 billion, these agreements lay the foundation for the gradual digitalization of signaling technology and, with it, the future of rail transport in Austria.

Effective Protection of Critical Infrastructure
Interlockings are the control centers of railway operations: they manage points and signals and ensure that trains run safely and efficiently. With Digital Interlockings, ÖBB is creating the technological foundation for an even more powerful and flexible railway system. This new generation of signaling technology enables the use of advanced digital solutions and sets new benchmarks for train control, even by international standards. At the same time, the system meets stringent cybersecurity requirements and provides effective protection against cyberattacks.

Peter Hanke, Federal Minister for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure: "With Digital Interlockings, we are investing in the backbone of our railway network. EUR 2.6 billion for modern digital signaling technology means greater reliability and punctuality. However, the digitalization of critical infrastructure also means responsibility: we are focusing on cybersecurity and technological sovereignty. With Siemens Mobility and Hitachi Rail, we have two internationally experienced companies at our side that are also deeply rooted in Austria and help secure jobs here."

Johann Pluy, Member of the Executive Board of ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG: "Digital Interlockings are a key technology for the railway of the future. With this award, we are setting the course for the comprehensive digitalization of our signaling infrastructure and creating the conditions needed to make rail transport in Austria more efficient, resilient, and capable. In doing so, ÖBB is once again setting international standards in digital traffic management."

International Railway Technology Expertise
With Siemens Mobility and Hitachi Rail, two industry leaders have been selected that combine extensive experience in delivering railway signaling systems with a strong local presence in Austria, supporting highly qualified employment and technological expertise within the country.

Scope of the Tender
The tender covers both the indoor components of the digital interlockings, where the safety-critical interlocking logic is executed, and the outdoor components, including so-called Object Controllers used to control signals, switches, and other safety-critical elements of railway infrastructure.

The framework agreement has a minimum term of ten years. In addition, a comprehensive service agreement covering the entire 25-year lifecycle of the systems has been concluded. This agreement includes support and maintenance services to ensure technical assistance, system upkeep, and availability throughout the entire life cycle.

Pilot Operation Planned from 2030
Implementation will take place in phases. The first pilot project is scheduled to enter operation in the fourth quarter of 2030, followed by additional pilot installations. Upon successful completion of the pilot phase, the technology can be rolled out across Austria. In the long term, all existing interlocking systems are intended to be replaced by Digital Interlockings.

Tanja Kienegger, Managing Director of Siemens Mobility Austria: "What began in 2020 as a pilot project at a station on the outskirts of Vienna is now being developed together with ÖBB into one of the most advanced railway networks in the world. Through technological excellence, digital innovation, and our Digital Interlocking solutions, we are creating the foundation for greater capacity, higher reliability, and more sustainable railway operations. We are actively shaping the transformation of Austria’s rail network and driving the future of mobility in Austria."

Siemens Mobility will deploy SignalingX, a modern software architecture for digital rail infrastructure that integrates interlocking functions, ETCS, diagnostic systems, object controllers, cybersecurity, and other applications on a common platform. In 2020, Siemens Mobility successfully commissioned a Digital Interlocking in Achau, near Vienna, as a pilot project. The company is currently equipping the entire ÖBB rail network with ETCS Level 2 by 2038. Combined with Digital Interlockings, this will make Austria’s railway network one of the most advanced in the world.

Hannes Boyer, Vice President of North, Central & Eastern Europe, Hitachi Rail: "Together with ÖBB, Hitachi Rail is playing a key role in the digitalization of Austria’s railway network. By combining global signaling expertise with Austrian engineering excellence, we are creating the conditions for a more reliable, efficient, and attractive railway system for future generations. This partnership sustainably strengthens Vienna’s position as a strategic development hub and will serve as an important reference project for railway digitalization across Europe."

Hitachi Rail has been active in Austria for more than six decades. At its Vienna site, the company has spent the last 30 years developing a platform that serves as a reliable operating environment for safety-critical railway applications worldwide. The platform forms the core technology behind highly available solutions such as interlockings, ETCS systems, and field elements, and will be deployed in its latest generation as part of the Digital Interlocking program. In Austria, Hitachi Rail’s central traffic management system forms the digital backbone of railway operations, ensuring the efficient operational control and monitoring of a highly automated rail network.