At the Wheel Rail Interaction Conference 2025 (WRI 2025), held in the United States, Lukas Prettner, Head of R&D Track Systems at voestalpine Rail Technology, presented a groundbreaking project focused on improving the wheel-rail interface in Vienna’s U6 metro line.
The WRI conference is a globally recognized platform for technical exchange among railway operators, infrastructure experts, academic researchers, and industry leaders. The central theme of this conference series is the wheel-rail contact, a critical factor in rail system performance, safety, and maintenance.
Urban rail systems like Vienna’s U6 metro line face unique challenges due to tight curves, frequent stops, and high passenger volumes. These factors contribute to accelerated wear on wheels and rails, leading to increased maintenance costs, noise emissions, and reduced ride comfort.
The project presented by Lukas Prettner was a collaborative initiative involving:
Together, the team conducted detailed measurements, simulations, and profile optimizations to reduce wear and improve the wheel-rail interface. The result: a more efficient, quieter, and sustainable metro operation.
Real innovation happens when operators, researchers, and industry work together — the U6 project is proof of that.
Wheel-rail interaction refers to the contact dynamics between train wheels and the rail track. It affects wear, noise, safety, and ride quality.
Optimizing the wheel-rail interface reduces wear, lowers maintenance costs, and improves the overall performance and sustainability of rail systems.
Urban systems like subways operate in tight curves, with frequent acceleration and braking. These conditions increase stress on the wheel-rail interface. Usually there is very limited time for track maintenance.