ÖBB train driver wins international “Train Driver of the Year” award

(Vienna, September 26, 2025) – ÖBB train driver Klaudia Malej was honored as “Train Driver of the Year” at the Transporeon Summit 2025 in Amsterdam at the international Carrier Awards.

International award for Carinthian
This international award honors Carinthian Klaudia Malej as a train driver who stands out for her exceptional commitment, sense of responsibility, and passion. As a universal train driver, she knows and controls 15 different types of locomotives. In addition to passenger trains, she also drives freight trains, transporting a wide variety of goods across Austria and beyond its borders. The ÖBB Rail Cargo Group's trains, which are several hundred meters long and weigh up to 2,000 tons, carry raw materials such as wood, ore, and gravel, as well as containers with consumer goods. Klaudia finds international freight transport particularly exciting, as she is responsible for transporting goods across national borders. “My job is not only to ensure the technical operation of the train, but also to comply with all specific regulations and safety requirements in different countries,” explains the award winner.

Train drivers are important for international supply chains
Klaudia Malej accepted her ‘Train Driver of the Year’ award at the Transporeon Summit in Amsterdam. The Transporeon Summit is an important meeting for the transport and logistics industry. With this award, the industry is not only emphasising the importance of train drivers for functioning supply chains, but also the role of rail as the most environmentally friendly mode of transport. ÖBB Rail Cargo Group CEO Bettina Castillo: ‘We are very proud of Klaudia Malej and her outstanding achievement. She represents the professionalism, sense of responsibility and passion with which our train drivers work every day to deliver our goods reliably and environmentally friendly to their destination.’

ÖBB is looking for staff – career changers welcome
Every year, ÖBB looks for around 4,100 new employees across Austria. Many of the jobs are ideal for career changers, as training is paid from day one. Train Driver of the Year winner Klaudia Malej also joined ÖBB as a career changer. Klaudia emphasises: ‘I have found my dream job’ and appeals to potential applicants: ‘The transport industry thrives on committed people. So take the plunge! If you are interested, have team spirit and a sense of responsibility, you can really make a difference.’
Interested persons can apply at karriere.oebb.at.

ÖBB Rail Cargo Group facilitates switch from road to rail
Since 2023, the ÖBB Rail Cargo Group has been the first rail logistics company to be represented on the Transporeon transport management platform. This is intended to make it easier for logistics specialists to plan and book multimodal transport. For customers who have previously relied exclusively on trucks, the presence of the Rail Cargo Group makes it more attractive to combine the sustainability of rail with the flexibility of trucks for the first and last mile.


Rail Cargo Group: the freight transport division of the ÖBB
As a leading rail logistics provider in Europe, we are shaping the industry. 365 days a year – 24 hours a day. Across Europe and beyond into Asia. With our presence in 18 countries – and our own traction in 13 of them – we connect people, businesses and markets from the first to the last mile. It’s thanks to our 6,014 logistics professionals that 418,114 trains a year, respectively 1,150 a day, reach their destinations safe and sound. With our efficient end-to-end logistics services, we transport 79,9 million net tonnes of freight each year.