Siemens Mobility to Modernise 32 km Zillertalbahn Signalling System in Austria

Siemens Mobility has secured a contract to modernise the signalling and train control system on Austria's Zillertalbahn, a 760 mm narrow-gauge (smaller than standard 1,435 mm gauge) tourist railway line running 32 km between Jenbach and Mayrhofen in Tyrol.

The modernisation will deliver higher safety margins, more reliable operations and improved punctuality and capacity on the line. The radio and satellite-based continuous train supervision system represents a digital upgrade from existing infrastructure. The system is scheduled to enter operation in 2028.

The project covers digital signalling, interlocking (the system that prevents conflicting train movements) and control technologies across the full length of the line. Siemens Mobility will supply the radio and satellite-based continuous train supervision system, which monitors train position and speed without requiring lineside equipment at every location.

The Zillertalbahn operates as a narrow-gauge tourist line in Austria's Tyrol region. The 760 mm gauge is used on several Austrian heritage and tourist railways, requiring specialised signalling solutions distinct from standard-gauge networks. Continuous train supervision systems combine GPS positioning with radio communication to provide real-time oversight of train movements, particularly suited to rural lines where traditional lineside signals would be costly to install and maintain.