The technology was tested in Poland on a more than 200-metre pilot section built as part of the construction of the Kraków-Przylasek railway stop on railway line no. 95 Mydlniki–Podłęże. The first track constructed using this technology was put into operation in August 2024, and the second in November of the same year.

After the section was commissioned, a one-year operational testing programme began. During this period, experts from the Railway Research Institute analysed, among other aspects, the durability of the structure, track stability and the efficiency of the solution under real railway traffic conditions. The results confirmed that all required technical criteria were met, allowing the technology to be approved for use in the national railway infrastructure.

Durable and quiet ballastless track system

The PORR Slab Track Austria ballastless track differs from the traditional track structure based on crushed-stone ballast. In this innovative solution, rails are mounted directly on prefabricated concrete slabs equipped with rail fastenings, which significantly increases track stability and reduces susceptibility to deformation. The use of elastomer damping elements additionally helps to effectively reduce vibrations and noise, which is particularly important for railway lines running through urban areas.

One of the system’s key advantages over other ballastless track solutions is its high level of prefabrication. Track slabs are manufactured under controlled conditions, ensuring consistent quality and very precise construction tolerances. Prefabrication accelerates installation and shortens construction time on site, while also limiting the scope of work carried out on site, such as reinforcement works or complex formwork. On-site concreting is largely limited to filling the slabs, which simplifies the implementation process and reduces the risk of construction errors.

The system is also characterised by very high durability—the first slab track sections installed in Austria in 1989 remain maintenance-free in operation to this day.

Prospects for the Polish railway market

Ballastless track technology has already been successfully implemented in many countries, including Germany, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Qatar and Australia. In Austria, the system has been used since 1989, both on high-speed lines and in metro systems.

Similarly promising prospects lie ahead for PORR Slab Track Austria in Poland. Its technical characteristics make it particularly suitable for railway lines running through tunnels as well as routes with high traffic intensity, where the reduction of noise and vibrations is crucial. In addition, the technology may also be applied in planned high-speed rail projects, offering greater durability and lower maintenance costs compared with traditional track solutions.