Age is Just a Number That Applies to 30 Years-old Windows 3.11 Still Powering German High-speed Trains
The use of outdated software in the state-owned systems and services is not unusual in all countries. Sometimes the cause is the lack of resources or essential investments. However, sometimes it’s the case that the outdated code isn’t sufficient to do the job.
It’s the case for German railroads where 30 years old Windows for Workgroups 3.11 is still in use. Its current use was announced just a few days ago through a job advertisement posted on German website Gulp.de according to the local newspaper Heise Online.
The job ad, which was later deleted, was made available in the job listing by Siemens Mobility, which provides services to the state-owned railroad company Deutsche Bahn (DB). The company was seeking an administrator for systems who had knowledge of older operating systems and, in particular, Windows 3.11 for Workgroups.
The stated task of Administrator was manage the maintenance and updates of the older system, which was that was released in November 1993. The announcement states the fact that Windows 3.11 for Workgroups powers the display system of the cab that displays the driver all of the crucial technical information in real time.
Tom’s Hardware reports that the system is likely to be employed in the old ICE 1 and ICE2 high-speed InterCity Express trains. They are older generations of German ICE railway network trains that were built between 1989 between 1989 and 1997.
German tabloid Bild took advantage of the occasion to emphasize the fact that 36% of German long-distance trains had been delayed in 2023, with delays of at least six minutes. There is no evidence to suggest that the problem could be traced to the Redmond’s designers back in the nineties.
Siemens Mobility confirmed to Heise Online the authenticity of the job advertisement that explained that railroad infrastructure and trains have a lifespan of 30 or more years. Siemens Mobility informed the public that its users “continue to safely use tried and tested legacy systems that are standard in the industry” and that Siemens Mobility is providing support and maintenance for the whole duration of the.
Of course, more modern systems are built using current software tools including artificial intelligence, according to the company. Don’t be shocked when those systems of the future utilize Windows 10 or 11 in 2054.
