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## Frequently asked questions
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## 🔍 General information
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### What is a hackathon?
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### What is Hack4Rail?
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A hackathon (a combination of the words “hack” and ‘marathon’) is an event in which interdisciplinary teams work together over a short period of time - usually 24 or 48 hours - to develop solutions to specific problems (“challenges”).
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Hack4Rail is a cross‑railway employee hackathon by *ÖBB*, *SBB*, *DB*, and the *OpenRail Association (ORA)*. In two and a half days, teams collaboratively develop digital and data‑driven prototypes for international rail challenges.
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### Do I need prior hackathon experience to participate?
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### Who is hosting this year’s event?
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No, previous participation or special experience is not required.
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Hack4Rail 2026 is hosted by *ÖBB*, in collaboration with *DB*, *SBB*, and the *OpenRail Association*. The Hackathon will take place from *22–24 June* at the *ÖBB Open Innovation Factory* in Vienna.
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### Do I need to be able to program or have IT expertise to participate?
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### In which language is the event held?
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No programming skills are required to participate. An IT background and an interest in open source solutions are advantageous. In addition, Hack4Rail requires many other skills, such as railway-specific knowledge, analytical thinking, and structured working methods.
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The event language is *English*.
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### Who can participate in Hack4Rail?
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### Who is eligible to participate?
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Employees of the three railways *ÖBB*, *SBB*, and *DB*, as well as member railways of the *OpenRail Association (ORA*), are eligible to participate. Each railway has its own contingent of available places. The hackathon is held in English and is hosted each year by one of the three founding railways – DB, SBB, or ÖBB.
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Employees of:
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### How can I participate in Hack4Rail?
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- ÖBB
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- SBB
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- DB
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- Member railways of the OpenRail Association (ORA)
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### What does the program look like?
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Participants will receive the full event program prior to the Hackathon. The schedule is as follows:
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- The Hackathon starts on *Monday afternoon* with the *challenge pitches* and *team building activities*
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- *Tuesday* is dedicated entirely to working on the challenges and developing *digital and data‑driven prototypes*.
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- On *Wednesday morning*, teams submit their solutions, followed by the *final presentations*.
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- The Hackathon ends on *Wednesday afternoon* with the *jury voting*
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## 🧭 Participation & Application
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### How can I participate?
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You can join in two ways:
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1. Submit a Challenge – You propose a challenge topic and present it if selected. Challenge submissions are open until 19 March.
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1. Join as a Participant – You apply as an individual, join a team on site, and work on one of the selected challenges. Participant registration starts on 1 April.
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Before registering, please ensure that you have aligned with your line manager.
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➡️ More details [here](/organization/participation)
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### Do I need prior hackathon experience?
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No. You can participate even without previous hackathon experience.
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### Do I need programming skills?
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Basic programming skills are *not mandatory*, but they are certainly *beneficial* and can give you an advantage when working on technical solutions.
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Valuable skills also include:
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- Presentation skills & Storytelling
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- Railway‑specific knowledge
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- Analytical thinking & Structured problem‑solving
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### How are places allocated?
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To ensure balanced and interdisciplinary teams, places are assigned with attention to a good mix of roles and competencies. These competencies are collected during the application process.
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### How are teams formed?
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The selected challenges will be published on 1 April. Applicants can indicate their preference during the application process. However, the final teams will only be formed on site at the *beginning of the hackathon*.
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### What should I bring to the event?
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A laptop, charger, and any tools you might need for development or prototyping.
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### Will mentoring or support be available?
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Yes. At least one Challenge Owner will be on site to support teams and answer questions related to their challenge. In addition, experts from the participating railway organisations will also be on site to support teams throughout the hackathon.
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## 💼 Organisation, Travel & Costs
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### Can participation be counted as working hours?
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The regulation is specific to each railway and must be discussed and agreed upon with your *line manager*.
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### What about travel & Accommodation?
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Participation in Hack4Rail is free of charge. Depending on the host location, costs for accommodation and travel to and from the event may apply. Therefore, please check with your line manager before registering.
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➡️ Information regarding travel and accommodation can be found [here](/organisation/travel)
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### Are meals and refreshments provided?
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Yes, meals, snacks, and drinks are typically provided throughout the event.
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### Is remote participation possible?
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No. Participation is on-site only, and you must be present for all event days to take part.
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## 📞 Contact
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### Who can I contact if I have further questions?
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➡️ Contact information can be found [here](/contact)
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There are two ways to take part in Hack4Rail:
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Either [submit your own challenge](https://share.openrailassociation.org/apps/forms/s/j5T8b5XocATQj5Rik5rcN5mH) and participate if it is selected. You will then be automatically registered.
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Or you can *apply as a participant* and work in a team on one of the selected challenges. It is important that you inform your team leader before registering, whether as a challenge owner or as a participant.
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### Does participation in Hack4Rail cost anything?
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Participation in Hack4Rail is free of charge. Depending on the host location, costs for accommodation, catering, and travel to and from the event may apply. Therefore, please check with your team leader before registering.
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### Who can I contact if I have questions about Hack4Rail?
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See information on our [contact page](/contact)

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