On April 16, approximately 70 interested parties gathered at the JOANNEUM RESEARCH headquarters in Graz for the “Forum Schiene” expert dialogue. The discussion focused on resilience measures to safeguard essential railway infrastructure against the backdrop of increasing stresses and new threat scenarios. In particular, approaches in the areas of safety, climate adaptation, and monitoring were discussed.

Josef Fuchs (VIRTUAL VEHICLE) presented a project on the static analysis of the rail surface defect known as “squat” (critical cracking on the rail surface), as well as a risk assessment tool based on this analysis. The concept enables the international comparison of railway systems and highlights the key factors influencing the risk of such damage occurring.

Margit Kurka (JOANNEUM RESEARCH) addressed the increasing vulnerability of railway infrastructure to geogenic natural hazards, exacerbated by extreme weather events, and emphasized the importance of hazard mapping, monitoring, and early warning systems. The central challenge lies in dealing with uncertainties; at the same time, this creates new opportunities for innovative, data-driven solutions to protect railway infrastructure.

Jürgen Neuhuber (ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG) presented a resilience management approach based on risk management, emergency planning, crisis management, and physical protection to ensure operational capability even during disruptions.

Ferdinand Pospischil (Graz University of Technology) presented modern test benches and laboratories for simulating real-world loads and developing new solutions. The spectrum ranges from laboratory tests to measurements taken directly on the track, bridging the gap between simulation and practice.

Martin Joch (PJ Messtechnik) discussed the interaction between pantographs and overhead lines. Through simulations and measurements, complex scenarios can be analyzed early on, and operational safety can be specifically improved.