Public environmental issues

Railway Infrastructure in Transition – Focus on Public Environment

Among all types of public transport, traveling by rail is the most environmentally friendly option – a low-emission and energy-efficient alternative to road and air transport. Recognizing its central role in combating climate change and securing future mobility, governments worldwide are increasingly investing in the expansion and modernization of national and international rail networks. These investments aim not only to reduce the CO2 footprint, but also to create more resilient, better-connected, and accessible transportation infrastructures for future generations.


New Framework for Railway Infrastructure

Just a few decades ago, the main focus in railway infrastructure was on operational efficiency and cost security. Today, additional criteria have emerged: climate change, increasing urbanization, stricter environmental regulations, and the expectation for more robust and resilient systems. Especially in densely populated areas and extreme environmental zones, it becomes evident how much infrastructure is exposed to physical conditions. Rail transport is expected to deliver more, cause less disturbance, and simultaneously last longer. This calls for new solutions to resolve these conflicting goals.

These “Public Environmental Issues” – environmental problems in the railway sector that attract particular public attention – should not be viewed in isolation. Noise, corrosion, and vibrations interact and must be addressed systemically. The needs of rail network operators are evolving.

The Underestimated Danger: Corrosion in the Track Area

Corrosion is a silent process, often detected only when safety-relevant components are already compromised. Metallic components of rail fastenings in tunnels, near coasts, or in industrial settings with chemical exposure face a high risk.


The specially developed Vossloh protect coating system offers not only chemical resistance but is also mechanically robust and durable. Its effect is based on a two-stage principle: a zinc-aluminum lamella base that acts cathodically to actively protect underlying steel even if damaged, and a topcoat that shields components from media such as brake fluid, diesel, or aggressive cleaning agents.


The advantages of Vossloh protect at a glance:

·       High resistance to acids, alkalis, diesel, AdBlue, etc.

·       Temperature resistance up to 350 °C

·       Protection remains even if damaged (cathodic effect)

This protection is not just a promise, but has been extensively tested – for example, on industrial tracks like those at the Knapsack Chemical Park. There, tension clamps could be reused after direct immersion in chemical agents and subsequent salt spray exposure without rust forming. In regions with high humidity or significant temperature fluctuations, this technology offers a reliable way to reduce lifecycle costs and increase safety margins.

Learn more about Vossloh protect

When the Track “Goes Quiet”: The Importance of Elasticity

In densely populated areas, protection against noise and vibration is crucial for the acceptance of railway infrastructure. The challenge is that the most effective noise prevention starts at the source. That’s exactly where solutions must be applied.

The material cellentic, a highly elastic, microcellular elastomer, was developed specifically for rail fastening systems. It absorbs energy from wheel irregularities, track unevenness, or thermal stresses and dampens the resulting vibrations. This not only reduces structure-borne noise but also protects the material itself.

Practical effectiveness is demonstrated in Budapest, where the Metro Line M4’s particularly tight tunnels imposed severe noise requirements. With cellentic intermediate layers tailored to specific frequency ranges, structure-borne noise was reduced below legal limits while increasing component lifespan. In critical areas, an advanced mass-spring technology was used, creating a track system that acts as a vibration-isolated unit.

Elasticity also plays a key role in switch areas. Movable-point frogs prevent hard wheel impacts, inclined installation harmonizes wheel transitions, and special fastening components ensure that no unnecessary structure-borne noise enters the construction. The sum of these measures results in a much quieter system with higher availability.

Learn more about cellentic

Intelligent Maintenance: High-Speed Grinding and Data-Based Servicing

The earlier minor defects are detected and repaired, the lower the maintenance effort. This is where High-Speed Grinding (HSG) comes into play: a process that not only works at high speeds, but can also be used during ongoing operations. Instead of night shifts, closures, and detours, the HSG system grinds out minor irregularities from the rail at up to 80 km/h – before they become problems.

But the technology doesn’t stop at grinding. In Milan, the HSG system was expanded into a smart maintenance platform. Laser scanners capture longitudinal and cross-sectional profiles, GPS-assisted localization makes the results precisely usable, and cloud-based analysis provides operators with direct recommendations for action. This creates a continuous overview of the track network’s condition, forming the basis for targeted maintenance.

The advantages are clear: no unforeseen failures, no unnecessary material stress, and much higher planning efficiency. Experience from Milan shows that this approach not only reduces noise levels but also significantly extends the service life of rails.

Robust Technology for Extreme Conditions

What works in the lab must also prove itself under real conditions. Vossloh has implemented projects worldwide that withstand very different extremes. In Brisbane, Australia, fastening systems were developed for the container terminal that can handle axle loads of up to 72 tonnes and are resistant to aggressive sea air.

In Doha, Qatar, a floating slab track system spanning over 165 kilometers was realized. With temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius, high humidity, and intensive use, the technical challenge was immense. Using elastic fastening systems (System 300 UTS) ensured not only vibration damping but also system stability.

In Melbourne, noise and vibration protection was a top priority. The combination of technical planning, proven systems, and rigorous quality assurance led the new metro infrastructure to be seen as an international flagship project. These diverse application areas show that there is no one-size-fits-all solution – but there are principles that can be adapted.

Railway Infrastructure under Extreme Conditions:

International Examples Summarized

Brisbane Port (Australia):

Use of the DFF 30 HH system with high vertical adjustment for container cranes (axle load up to 72 t) and corrosion protection against sea air

Doha Metro (Qatar):

Use of floating slab track (Slab Track Austria) with System 300 UTS for vibration damping in tunnels at +50 °C ambient temperature

Melbourne Metro Tunnel:

Technically advanced slab track focusing on noise and vibration protection

Securing Innovation: Research, Testing, Training

Robust technology needs a solid foundation. At the Vossloh Technology Center in Werdohl, materials, geometries, and assemblies are systematically tested: for corrosion, temperature changes, and mechanical continuous loads. From dynamic simulation to salt spray chambers and fully automated viscosity measurement, a realistic picture emerges of the performance of each new development.

But technology alone is not enough. Only by sharing knowledge can innovation scale. That’s why Vossloh offers extensive training programs – from training modules in Reichshoffen to the renowned Bahn-Wege seminars in cooperation with Rhomberg Sersa. Customers, operators, and planners thus receive the exact knowledge needed not only to install modern systems but also to understand them.

Outlook: Railway Infrastructure as an Environmental Contribution

Rail is part of the solution when it comes to climate protection and sustainable mobility. But it is only as good as its infrastructure. To meet rising demands, a change of perspective is needed: infrastructure is no longer just an operational asset, but an environmental factor. Its quality directly influences how much the rail system can contribute to alleviating environmental, social, and economic burdens.