ÖBB relies on weather forecasts from UBIMET
Gale force winds, heavy rain, snowfall, floods and severe storms can lead to disruptions or diversions of entire streets and rail tracks. The UBIMET 24/7 warning system provides the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) with exact predictions and helps reduce the impact of extreme weather events.
The UBIMET warning system goes international
UBIMET and ÖBB have been working together since 2005, and have jointly developed a weather information system for railways.
Here is a video of this tailor-made system for ÖBB:
The system includes round-the-clock monitoring of the entire rail network, as well as constantly updated and tailored forecasts specifically for planning railway operations. As one of the few railways worldwide with its own natural hazards department, ÖBB truly benefits from its co-operation with UBIMET. International railway operators such as DB have been using the UBIMET weather warning system since 2007.
The warning systems for railways from Austria are unique and have gained international attention and recognition. The system allows very precise route forecasts. The ÖBB knows days in advance, where a lot of snow will fall and are able to keep the tracks clear. The railway weather system is currently being prepared for Europe-wide coverage, as accurate and precise forecasts are of great importance for all railway operators!
Broad scope & powerful potential
In the winter railway operators want to know when and where they have to clear snow. Prolonged summer heat waves should be used to schedule track repairs, as the heat can lead to warping of the rails. To calculate the risk of fire along railway tracks, each curve and slope must be taken into account.
For these forecasts, UBIMET developed high-resolution, industry-tailored weather model. The railway weather system also serves as a communications center, as all weather warnings, news from ÖBB employees and the latest weather station readings are all gathered in one central online portal.
Services provided by UBIMET to ÖBB
- Weather information and notification system for the entire operator
- Internal communication regarding natural hazards management
- Information and reporting for the avalanche committee
- Monitoring of torrents and mudflows
- Construction and operation of weather stations
- Winter service information
- Risk analysis
