We are delighted to announce that voestalpine Railway Systems has received prestigious recognition in Progressive Railroading magazine’s 2024 Readers' Choice Awards.
Our innovative Keyway Concrete Tie and the UNISTAR HR Point Setting System were selected as winners, reaffirming our commitment to delivering cutting-edge rail solutions that meet the evolving needs of the global rail industry.
Progressive Railroading is a respected publication covering rail industry trends for railroad and transit professionals. The Readers' Choice Awards identify the top 24 innovative products, systems, and technologies based on votes from the magazine's specialist subscribers, including rail industry executives and decision-makers.
While concrete ties have proven their durability, over 90% of North American railroad tracks still rely on treated wood ties due to their historical affordability and availability. However, the rising costs, supply chain challenges, and environmental concerns around creosote-treated wood ties have led to the search for more sustainable alternatives.
Our Keyway Concrete Tie addresses these issues with an innovative design that combines the robustness of concrete crossties with a high-performance fastening system. This breakthrough allows for the interspersion of concrete ties on timber tracks without the compatibility issues typically associated with this method.
By matching the flexibility of timber ties with the durability of concrete, the Keyway Tie strengthens track gauge, extends the life of adjacent wooden ties, and supports cost-effective rail maintenance. Designed for use with standard Maintenance of Way (MOW) equipment, it offers a seamless transition from wooden to concrete ties without significant disruption to operations.
This advanced rail solution has been successfully deployed in heavy haul, commuter rail, and light rail systems, providing immediate benefits such as enhanced reliability, safety, and long-term cost savings.
Our UNISTAR HR Point Setting System has won in the Communication & Signaling category. This state-of-the-art point operating system has proven its versatility and reliability with over 4,000 installations worldwide since 2010 in further applications in all kind of railway solutions as heavy rail, commuter rail, mixed traffic and urban transport.
The UNISTAR HR meets the strictest safety standards required by major rail networks such as Network Rail (GB), German Railways (DB, GER), ProRail (NL), MTA NYCT (USA), Union Pacific (USA), FMG (AUS), SAR (SAU), CPTM (BR), EFE (CHL), TRA (TWN). Its electro-hydraulic design offers easy installation, even in extreme environments like deserts, jungle, maritime, and subpolar climates. Certified to IP67 and IP68 standards, it operates seamlessly in dusty, wet, and high-humidity environments, making it ideal, also for mining railroads and harsh conditions.
With minimal maintenance requirements (MTTR of 20 minutes), the UNISTAR HR provides unmatched operational efficiency.
To meet diverse industry needs, the UNISTAR HR series includes specialized versions:
All models are certified dust-tight and waterproof, ensuring long-lasting performance in the most challenging conditions.
Winning the Progressive Railroading Readers' Choice Award for both the Keyway Concrete Tie and UNISTAR HR Point Setting System is a significant milestone for voestalpine Railway Systems. It recognizes our dedication to rail industry innovation, safety, and sustainability.
We thank everyone who voted for our products and remain committed to developing advanced rail technologies that will continue to improve the efficiency and safety of rail systems worldwide. Our teams in North America, Europe, and around the globe are more motivated than ever to push the boundaries of railway technology and provide future-ready solutions for the rail industry.