Siemens opens Austria’s first digital rail test centre

Siemens Mobility has opened Austria’s first digital rail test centre in Vienna-Floridsdorf, where it will develop and test railway infrastructure technologies, including with artificial intelligence. ORF reported that the centre will take solutions through to readiness for series production.

Computers and servers at the centre replicate real railway infrastructure, allowing new solutions to be developed and tested without disrupting services on live routes. Siemens says this should speed up implementation on the rail network, reduce disruption from line closures and improve passenger satisfaction.

The centre can handle up to 100 new projects. These include building signals and switches, as well as digital interlockings for Level 2 of the European Train Control System. ÖBB’s rail network is to be upgraded to this level by 2038.

Operations on Vienna’s new U5 underground line will also be prepared and tested at the centre, allowing functions and procedures to be checked well before passenger services begin.

The project cost about 25 million euros, including the operation and computing capacity of 1,000 machines. The 2,500-square-metre building was completed in 18 months.