Otfried Knoll Wins Award
Infrastructure Award “Red Arrow 2023” for Head of Department Otfried Knoll
Otfried Knoll, Head of the St. Pölten UAS’ Department of Rail Technology and Mobility, was awarded the “Red Arrow 2023” within the framework of the 21st industry location and infrastructure symposium Future Business Austria at the WKO’s headquarters.
The infrastructure award Red Arrow is used to honour outstanding achievements on behalf of Austria’s infrastructure and industry location. Since 2007, Austrian personalities, companies, and institutions have been thus distinguished for their special services and commitment to the national infrastructure, its expansion, and the increase of its efficiency. The prize is awarded by Future Business Austria (FBA), the country’s biggest infrastructure initiative.
“Like many other distinctions before it, this award honour Otfried Knoll’s great commitment, extensive expert knowledge, and various activities and initiatives for the railway and mobility sector: We cordially congratulate Otfried on this recognition”, say UAS CEOs Johann Haag and Hannes Raffaseder.
A Life Dedicated to the Railway and Public Transport
During his studies at TU Wien, Otfried Knoll worked at railway workshops and as train driver before going on to be involved in all stages of decision-making processes in his functions as works manager, managing director, supervisory board member, and official expert.
From 1997 to 2010, he served as managing director and works manager of Niederösterreichische Verkehrsorganisationsgesellschaft mbH NÖVOG – in the same function, he was also a member of the development team for railway study programmes at the St. Pölten UAS. Between 2004 and 2007, Otfried Knoll was a member of the supervisory board of ÖBB Personenverkehr AG. With his company “Knoll Traffic & Touristic Solutions”, he advises companies and regional authorities in the transport sector. He has also been the chairman of the association Pro Gmundner Straßenbahn for many years now.
Otfried Knoll initiated several large-scale railway and transport projects in Lower Austria and was prominently involved in their implementation, among them the “Wiesel” trains and buses, the “Salamander” rack railway, Wachaubahn, Waldviertelbahn, and Mariazellerbahn.
For many years, Knoll was works manager at Stern & Hafferl Verkehrsgesellschaft in Gmunden. Both in this capacity and later as consultant for the same company, he drew up future concepts for the railways operated by Stern & Hafferl. He is a member of the Österreichische Verkehrswissenschaftliche Gesellschaft and the author of numerous specialist articles and books.