After an interruption in the last decades of the 20th century, a number of pressure shafts with steel linings are presently being built or planned. These are frequently connected with the use of high-strength steel and with pumped storage plants. Larger dimensions and higher dynamic loads demand further research beyond the previous state of the art of the 1980s. An advanced concept by the second author, involving the geotechnical interaction of steel lining and rock mass, opens up new potential for the design of linings. This approach postulates ductility requirements for the steel used for liners which may be challenging for the field of modern high-strength steels. This paper provides an overview of the latest investigations dealing with the design of steel liners for internal pressure and the required properties for high-strength steel.