On 25 and 26 September 2026, this year's meeting of the Association of University Professors of Railway Engineering (VUE) was held at TU Wien. The professors meet twice a year for an extensive professional exchange, once in the spring at DB in Berlin and once in the autumn, alternating between the university locations.

This year, the meeting was co-organised and hosted by Prof. Bernhard Rüger from the Research Unit of Track-bound Transportation Systems. The first day's programme included a highly interesting two-hour lecture and intensive discussion by Dr Thomas Petraschek, head of R&D at ÖBB Infrastruktur AG. In his presentation, he explained the ÖBB's R&D strategy in detail.

After the lunch break, host Prof. Bernhard Rüger had the opportunity to explain the focus of the Research Unit of Track-bound Transportation Systems in detail, also touching on relevant research projects and teaching priorities. The activities of the Institute of Mechanics and Mechatronics at TU Wien, which deals with aspects of rail vehicles, were also presented.

These presentations were followed by three further presentations by new VUE members on their institutes: Prof. Beate Bender from TU Berlin, Prof. Harald Loy from the University of Innsbruck and Prof. Michael Häßler from the University of Wuppertal.

The first day ended with a cosy evening and many lively discussions in the Gmoakeller.

On the second day, an extensive exchange on cooperation strategies and the filling of vacant professorships was followed by a relaxed lunch at the Resselpark restaurant and a very interesting tour of the Climatic Wind Tunnel Vienna at Rail Tec Arsenal.