Vienna, July 19, 2026
Rising temperatures are posing growing challenges to rail infrastructure in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, which is why ÖBB is relying on preventive maintenance, proprietary weather stations, and more heat-resistant rolling stock.
Temperatures on the Rail
At air temperatures of 30, 35, or 40 degrees, rail temperatures of up to 60 degrees can occur. "Bei Lufttemperaturen von 30, 35 oder 40 Grad können daher Schienentemperaturen von bis zu 60 Grad auftreten," according to an assessment that also consulted Austrian scientists. Rails can heat up approximately 20 degrees Celsius more than the surrounding air under direct sunlight — depending, among other factors, on location, orientation, wind, shading, and construction type. Harald Loy, head of the Chair of Railway Engineering at the Faculty of Technical Sciences at the University of Innsbruck, puts the maximum track temperature at up to 65 degrees.