All episodes

What can visitors expect from InnoTrans 2026?
Every two years, the global railway industry gathers in Berlin for InnoTrans, the world's leading trade fair for transport technology. As the railway industry prepares for InnoTrans 2026, Markus Maier offers a sneak peek at what visitors can discover at the voestalpine Railway Systems booth. Explore the innovations, technologies, and integrated system solutions that help railway operators improve performance, increase availability, and shape the future of rail infrastructure.

Listen now and meet us at Hall 21b, Booth 150.

How can railway operators move from reactive maintenance to predictive decision-making?

In this episode, Franziska Schneditz-Bolfras explains how infrastructure monitoring provides the foundation for data-driven railway maintenance. By continuously collecting and analyzing asset data, operators gain deeper insight into asset condition, identify deterioration patterns early, and support more informed maintenance decisions.

Learn how monitoring technologies, analytics, and human expertise work together to improve infrastructure availability and support a more proactive maintenance approach.

Why does digitalization require a holistic view of railway infrastructure?

In this episode, Theresa Passath explains why modern railway networks can no longer be managed as isolated assets. As infrastructure becomes increasingly connected, operators need access to consistent lifecycle data, transparent asset information, and integrated decision-making processes. Learn how asset serialization, digital asset delivery, and lifecycle-driven management help create the foundation for more efficient maintenance, improved reliability, and better long-term infrastructure performance.

What makes a turnout system intelligent?
Modern turnout systems generate more information than ever before. But how can this data help maintenance teams make better decisions? In this episode, Alfred Pölinger discusses how monitoring technologies provide insights into asset condition, support maintenance planning, and contribute to improved availability and reliability. Drawing on decades of industry experience, he also shares practical lessons learned from the evolution of turnout systems and the growing role of digital technologies in railway infrastructure.

When does a turnout know it is about to fail?

Turnout systems are not just mechanical assets. In this episode, Alfred Pölinger explains how sensors, diagnostics, and digital twins are transforming turnouts into intelligent assets that provide real-time condition insights and enable predictive maintenance. Discover why a holistic lifecycle perspective is becoming essential for improving availability, safety, and long-term performance.

What else is needed for a high-performing fixation system besides the fastening system?

Building on Part 1, railway expert Robert Demal turns to the second key element of a fixation system: sleeper systems. He explains how elasticity can be applied at different levels of the track structure and why the interaction between fastening systems and sleepers is critical for reducing maintenance, protecting the ballast, and extending asset life. The episode also explores different sleeper technologies, vibration reduction concepts, sustainability aspects, and practical considerations when selecting the right track solution for different applications.

Discover how fastening systems and sleeper systems work...

Why are fixation systems essential for track performance?
In this episode, railway expert Robert Demal explains the fundamentals of fixation systems, their key components, and their role in ensuring track stability, passenger comfort, and long-term reliability. Learn how fastening systems differ across urban, mixed-traffic, high-speed, and heavy-haul applications. As the first part of this series, the episode focuses primarily on fastening systems, one of the key elements of a fixation system.

This episode explains how vertical dynamic track interaction, lateral track behaviour, and digital decision-making tools help railway operators better understand infrastructure performance, optimize lifecycle costs, and improve availability.

How do engineers actually understand what is happening in the track?

In Episode 02 of Performance on Track, track systems expert Lukas Prettner explains how engineers combine measurements, simulations, and real-world observations to understand track behaviour. Discover why the wheel–rail interface is so important and why railway infrastructure must always be viewed as a complete system.

In the first episode of Performance on Track, Albert Jörg introduces the system approach and explains why railway infrastructure must be understood as a whole. He highlights how connected elements influence performance and how this perspective helps prevent failures and improve long-term reliability.