Hack4Rail

23 - 25 June 2025, Bern (Switzerland)

Hack4Rail - formerly Dreiländerhack #3LH - is entering its sixth round with fresh branding and new perspectives. Together with Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Schweizerische Bundesbahn (SBB), ÖBB is opening up its established hack format to other international railways. Join us and contribute your skills from 23 to 25 June in Bern: Connected Railway for Intelligent Solutions!

From this year, the hackathon will be even more international and open to participants from member railways of the OpenRail Association and will be held in English for the first time. Are you interested in working in varied teams on tricky challenges from the railway sphere and developing concrete solutions? The challenges that will be addressed come directly from various areas of the railway companies. Hack4Rail therefore offers the opportunity to solve real challenges from everyday railway scenarios. Enter your own challenge now or apply for one of the popular hacking seats.

Key facts

Date: 23. – 25. June 2025
Wo: SBB Headquaters, Hilfikerstrasse 1, 3014 Bern (Auditorium and 1st floor)
Accommondation: Novotel Bern Expo

How to be part of Hack4Rail

Submit your own challenge!

Do you have a railway-specific problem and see a hackathon as an opportunity to come up with some fresh solutions?
Would you like a new perspective on your question and are you open to ideas that you hadn’t thought of before?
Does your problem fit thematically with the six themed tracks?

If you have a specific idea for a challenge, please complete this OnePager and send it to openinnovation@oebb.at by Friday, 11 April 2025.

After your idea has been reviewed by the ORGA team, we will inform you whether your challenge is suitable for the Hack4Rail.

Secure your hacking seat!

Are you a problem-solver (developer, data analyst, UX designer, graphic designer, business analyst, architect, ...)?
Are you a creative type looking to solve a railway-specific challenge using agile methods as part of a team over two days?
Would you like to work on exciting challenges and exchange ideas with European railway workers?

If the answer to all these questions is yes, then don’t hesitate to register as a participant for Hack4Rail. Registration opens on 1 April 2025 and closes on 13 May 2025. Places for the hackathon are limited.

Registration

Click here to register (German)!

Downloads

Themed tracks

Hack4Rail challenges will be tackled around the following six themed tracks:

Timetable flexibility and capacity optimisation
Borderless mobility and logistics in Europe
Efficient disruption and construction site management
Railway stations as mobility hubs
Green digitalisation – working together for sustainability and environmental protection
Future workshop on mobility and logistics

A detailed description of the themed tracks can be found in this PDF.

Program of Hack4Rail 2025

Day 1: June 23

15:00: Individual arrival I Check-in
17:00: Opening
17:30: Challenge pitches
18:30: Teambuilding and flying dinner

Day 2: June 24

08:00: Open doors and hacking time
09:00: Yoga session
12:00: Lunch at SBB staff restaurant Sole
13:30: Hacking time
16:00: Pitch training
19:00: Pizza & networking

Day 3: June 25

08:00: Open Doors and hacking time
08:30: Meditation session
11:00: End of hacking time and submission of solutions
12:00: Lunch at SBB staff restaurant Sole
13:00: Result pitches
14:30: Break, jury voting and input presentation
15:15: Award ceremony and farewell
16:30: Aperitif (snacks, drinks & networking)

Q&A

What is a hackathon?

A hackathon (a word made by combining «hack» and «marathon») is an event where the aim is to find solutions to problems (the challenges) together in cross-functional teams within a short period of time (typically 24 or 48 hours).
When can I register for Hack4Rail?

Registration is possible from 1 April 2025 on this page (only in German).
When is the closing date for registering and submitting challenges?

The closing date for submitting challenges is 11 April 2025 and the closing date for participation is 13 May 2025.
Who will be taking part in Hack4Rail?

There are 40 places each for employees of the three railway companies SBB, DB and ÖBB and 50 for employees of the member railways of the OpenRail Association. Teams will be formed on site at the hackathon.
How are the hacking seats allocated among all those who register?

The principle of “first come, first served” applies. Nevertheless, we keep the option to check the relevant skills required for the different challenges.
Do I need to be able to code or have IT expertise to take part?

No, participation is open to all employees of SBB, DB and ÖBB as well as other railway companies. At Hack4Rail, the teams also need other skills to solve a problem.
Do I need to have experience of a hackathon to take part?

No, you can take part without any experience.
Do I have to have a team in advance to take part?

No, you sign up as an individual and the team selection takes place at the hackathon venue.
How are the submitted challenges selected?

The challenges are selected internally at ÖBB. In principle, anyone can submit a challenge. The OnePager must be completed in English and sent by email to openinnovation@oebb.at by 11 April. It is important that it is a specific problem that needs to be solved and that it fits in with the six themed tracks mentioned above. The ÖBB Hackathon Team, together with the individual submitting the challenge, will design the challenge in such a way that it can be solved at a hackathon.
Does it cost anything to take part in Hack4Rail?

There is no participation fee for the Hack4Rail. Meals, snacks and drinks will be provided during the hackathon by this year's host, SBB. ÖBB Open Innovation will cover half of the cost of the two overnight stays at the Novotel Bern Expo. The rooms have already been reserved. The remaining 50% and the travel costs are to be covered by the participants' department. It is important that you inform your manager about the costs before you register. You must organise your own travel to and from the event.
Can participation in Hack4Rail be counted as working time?

There is no ÖBB-wide regulation on working hours during the hackathon. This depends on the framework conditions of the respective area in your subgroup and must be discussed with the responsible manager before registering.
Is it possible to also take part on just one day?

No, participation in Hack4Rail is only possible for the entire event (21-23 June 2025).
Who can I contact if I have questions about Hack4Rail?

Write an e-mail to the organisation team at openinnovation@oebb.at with the subject ‘Hack4Rail’.