Voestalpine has manufactured the world’s first rail made using hydrogen-reduced steel at its Donawitz site, marking a significant milestone in green steel production.
Developed as part of a pilot project, the “green rail” was created using a combination of scrap and hydrogen-reduced pure iron produced at the HYFOR pilot plant. The raw material was melted at the company’s in-house TechMet research facility and then rolled into finished rails at the adjacent mill.
Like all Voestalpine rails, the new hydrogen-based version offers high hardness and wear resistance. The first of its kind has already been installed at Linz Central Station.
As a global leader in railway infrastructure, Voestalpine Railway Systems supplies complete solutions, from rails, turnouts, and sleepers to digital signaling and monitoring technologies for major railway projects worldwide.
CEO Herbert Eibensteiner called the hydrogen-reduced rail a historic milestone, emphasizing the company’s commitment to decarbonization through its greentec steel program. Voestalpine plans to commission green-powered electric arc furnaces at both its Linz and Donawitz sites starting in 2027.
Unlike traditional steelmaking, hydrogen-based production uses green hydrogen to remove oxygen from iron ore, emitting only water vapor instead of CO2. The breakthrough aligns with Voestalpine’s broader efforts to transition to low-emission steelmaking technologies.
