Hitachi Rail Selected For Austria’s Digital Signalling Transformation

Austria, September 2026 — Austria’s national railway infrastructure manager, ÖBB-Infrastruktur, has awarded framework agreements to Hitachi Rail and Siemens Mobility following a multi-year procurement process for the gradual digitalisation of railway signalling across the country. The combined agreements have a total value of approximately €2.6 billion.

The programme covers the replacement of conventional interlocking systems with digital interlockings, including both the safety-critical internal systems and object controllers responsible for signals, points and other railway infrastructure. Around 300 digital interlocking units are expected to be delivered, with implementation planned in phases across the ÖBB network.

Hitachi Rail’s scope includes the development of safety-critical software, deployment across the ÖBB infrastructure network and long-term lifecycle support. The company’s share of the overall framework is reported at approximately €1.3 billion, broadly matching the value allocated to Siemens Mobility.

The first pilot project is scheduled for commissioning in the fourth quarter of 2030, after which successful testing would support wider deployment across Austria. Siemens will use its Signalling X architecture, which integrates interlocking, ETCS, diagnostics, object controllers and cybersecurity functions on a common platform.

The programme forms part of Austria’s broader rail digitalisation strategy, with the new signalling architecture intended to progressively replace conventional systems while supporting greater network capacity, reliability and operational resilience. Its phased deployment also provides a long-term framework for integrating digital signalling with wider European rail technologies such as ETCS.

Source: Nikkei Asia