Our destination was ÖBB, the Austrian Federal Railways, one of the country’s largest employers. This naturally prompts the question: why would a group of physicists visit ÖBB? Rail transport presents compelling engineering and scientific challenges, making it a field of considerable interest to physicists.
The meeting point was ÖBB’s headquarters at Vienna Hauptbahnhof. We were honoured to be greeted by ÖBB’s Chief Executive Officer, Andreas Matthä, who provided a compelling introduction to the company and then invited questions, resulting in a lively discussion.
The address by the CEO was followed by a talk by Erik Pinter, Team Lead for Track Measurement and Analysis. He delivered an informative and engaging presentation detailing the extensive work and sophisticated technologies required to ensure reliable train operations.
The visit concluded with a guided tour of one of ÖBB’s Technical Services facilities, offering a behind-the-scenes view of the new Nightjet.
We were very grateful for having had the chance to visit the ÖBB, an impressive organization that offers diverse and compelling opportunities for physicists.
On behalf of the Team,
Ulrich Galander & David Schmoll
Event organizers
© image: Ulrich Galander & David Schmoll
