Austria Rail Testing: INFRATRACK Mellach for Vehicle Innovation

Introduction

In November 2025, Boom Software AG and PJ Messtechnik GmbH established INFRATRACK Solutions GmbH in Graz, Austria, taking over the connecting railway line at the Mellach Verbund power plant site to facilitate railway sector testing, including measurement and software applications.

Project Overview

The joint venture, INFRATRACK Solutions GmbH, was founded in July 2025 by Boom Software AG and PJ Messtechnik GmbH in Graz. The venture utilizes the Mellach site, a partially decommissioned power plant, as a test track. The site allows for the fitting of measurement technology to vehicles, alongside physical and software-based testing.

Infrastructure and Capabilities

The connecting railway line offers a fully electrified (overhead line) infrastructure suitable for heavy vehicles. The site includes a large hall, previously a defrosting hall, equipped with a roof work platform and a crane. Furthermore, it features track sections, including a curve with a 150-meter radius, and is a fully fenced and 24/7 manned facility. These features support various tests on rail vehicles and systems.

Testing Focus

The site is designed for equipping vehicles with measurement technology (instrumentation), commissioning rail vehicles, static tests, acoustic and EMC measurements, testing and optimization of sensor technology and software under real operating conditions, and the further development and automation of digital processes in the depot.

Industry Impact

According to Andreas Schaller, CEO of Boom Software AG and managing director of INFRATRACK Solutions GmbH, Mellach’s location and infrastructure provide an ideal solution for testing rail vehicles. Martin Joch, CEO of PJ Messtechnik GmbH and INFRATRACK Solutions GmbH, views the venture as a “triple win,” supporting innovation in eco-friendly mobility solutions and strengthening the Austrian railway industry.

Conclusion

Boom Software AG and PJ Messtechnik GmbH have combined their experience through the establishment of INFRATRACK Solutions GmbH at the Mellach site in Austria. The project aims to provide a comprehensive testing environment for rail vehicles and systems, focusing on various aspects from instrumentation to software optimization.

Company Summary

Boom Software AG: For over 30 years, Boom Software AG has specialized in providing integrated software solutions for the railway sector, public transport, industrial maintenance, and production management. The company has locations in Leibnitz and Graz (Austria) and Oldenburg (Germany) and develops scalable, process- and user-oriented solutions. Clients include ÖBB, Steiermärkische Landesbahnen, Siemens Mobility Austria, Innofreight, Deutsche Bahn, Northrail, Stadtwerke Bonn, and the municipal transport companies in Tallinn and Warsaw.

INFRATRACK Solutions GmbH: A joint venture founded in July 2025 by Boom Software AG and PJ Messtechnik GmbH. The company operates a test track at the Mellach site, focusing on rail vehicle testing.

PJ Messtechnik GmbH: An ISO/IEC 17025-accredited testing laboratory. It conducts rail vehicle approval tests worldwide, specializing in engineering and offering six test areas: running behavior, strength, brakes, acoustics, aerodynamics, and pantographs. PJ Messtechnik GmbH is the only testing laboratory in Austria for pantograph testing. Recent projects include the new Nightjet generation for Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), the Rhaetian Railway, Canada’s Mountaineer passenger train, the TILO regional railway, Berlin’s S-Bahn, and the underground railways in Riyadh, Chicago, and London.

PJ Monitoring GmbH: A technology leader in the automation and digitalisation of rail freight transport.

PJ Motion GmbH: Specializes in the authorization and requirements management of rail-bound vehicles.