Alstom has signed a contract with Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) to upgrade up to 449 vehicles with the latest onboard signalling system, valued at over EUR 100 million. This project, set to continue until 2030, aims to support ÖBB in reliable, cross-border passenger and freight transport across Europe.
Under the framework agreement, the first fixed call-off will cover 195 trains, with upgrades to ETCS Baseline 3.6 being carried out by Alstom in ÖBB workshops located in Linz and Vienna. Alstom's experience includes over 120 ETCS projects worldwide, 24,800 onboard units across more than 200 vehicle types, and 13,300 kilometers of equipped lines.
The volume and density of rail traffic are rising, and with rail transport becoming increasingly international, there is a growing need for advanced signalling technology. The European Train Control System (ETCS) is a standardized, transnational railway safety system already implemented in numerous European countries. It improves train control by allowing trains to run at shorter intervals and enhances safety by automatically braking trains that exceed speed limits or travel too closely together. This upgrade aims to increase rail transport capacity and reduce maintenance costs while prioritizing safety.
