Voestalpine used hydrogen-reduced iron from Primetals Technologies’ Hyfor pilot plant at its Donawitz site, then melted it at its TechMet research steelworks and rolled it into finished rail at the adjacent mill.

The Hyfor plant started up in 2021, and in April, Primetals, Mitsubishi, voestalpine, and Rio Tinto agreed to build a hydrogen-based ironmaking plant in Linz using the plants and smelter technologies.

For the hydrogen rail project, Voestalpine lowered the rail’s carbon footprint by blending Hyfor-produced hydrogen-based iron with recycled scrap steel in the production process.

Franz Kainersdorfer, Voestalpine Board Member and Metal Engineering Head, called the project “one of the biggest technological challenges in the transition to green steel production.”

The company aims to scale up its greentec steel initiative by commissioning two electric arc furnaces (EAFs) in Linz and Donawaitz, starting in 2027 and powered by renewable energy.

The hydrogen-based rail installation is part of the four-track expansion between Linz and Wels. The initiative is designed to reduce regional rail bottlenecks and boost capacity for passenger and freight traffic.

“Every train journey starts with the first meter of rail,” said ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä.

“Today, this journey into a sustainable mobility future has gained even more momentum. One future meets another here: the hydrogen-based rail meets the critical four-track expansion.”