Austrian state railway ÖBB and Voestalpine laid the world's first hydrogen-based rail at Linz's central station, which was produced with net zero CO2 emissions. Part of Voestalpine's pilot project involves manufacturing rails from hydrogen-reduced pure iron. The rail was laid as part of the quadruple-track expansion of the Vienna – Wels Westbahn railway line to increase capacity on the Upper Austrian railway network. From 2027, Voestalpine is planning to use electric arc furnaces in Linz and Donawitz to further decarbonise steel production. The rails were manufactured at the HYFOR pilot plant in Donawitz.
