Following our latest announcement of the world’s first hydrogen-based rail installation at Linz Central Station, we’re taking a moment to look behind the scenes at the historic melt that made this breakthrough possible. Conducted in summer 2025 at voestalpine’s Donawitz site, this pilot project marks a key milestone in the journey toward CO₂-neutral steel production.
At the TechMet research steel plant, a hydrogen-reduced sponge iron produced via the HYFOR pilot facility was melted together with high-quality scrap. This innovative combination formed the basis for two 30-meter-long rails, which were subsequently rolled at the adjacent rail mill.
The result: premium-grade rail steel with outstanding hardness and wear resistance — meeting the highest standards for modern rail infrastructure.
only German version available
Technological breakthrough: The successful processing of HYFOR material in a real-world production setting proves the feasibility of hydrogen-based steelmaking.
Unique research environment: TechMet, a fully functional mini steel plant, offers ideal conditions for advanced metallurgical development.
Cross-disciplinary collaboration: Experts from process engineering, metallurgy, and materials science worked together to create a new, sustainable production process.
While the press release highlighted the installation of the rail, this background story reveals the innovative groundwork that enabled it. It’s a powerful example of how research, technology, and sustainability come together at voestalpine Railway Systems to shape the future.