InnoTrans has opened its doors on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds for the fourteenth time. Once again, Berlin will be the international hub for the mobility solutions of tomorrow, and the industry’s leading minds will discuss innovative concepts and smart products.
Prior to the event starting on Tuesday, Dirk Hoffmann, COO of Messe Berlin, said: “InnoTrans 2024 is a very special edition. With the display halls, Outdoor Display and Summer Garden all fully occupied, it is now bigger than ever. It is the largest trade show ever to be held in Berlin and caps a unique success story. A show that always moves with the times, and with its focus on electrification, digitalisation and sustainability, it sets exactly the right priorities.”
Dr. Volker Wissing, Federal Minister for Digital and Transport: “InnoTrans is a highlight on the rail industry’s calendar of events because it stands for innovation and progress. It provides an important boost that can help to overcome the major challenges facing this sector. I am delighted that this year InnoTrans is for the first time hosting a display dedicated to AI. Particularly at a time of skills shortages and the growth in transport, it has huge potential.“
On 24 September 2024, together with Dirk Hoffmann, Federal Minister of Transport Dr. Volker Wissing will open InnoTrans 2024. Afterwards at palais.Berlin, over 1,000 international guests representing politics, business and the media will attend a podium discussion on AI entitled ’From Hype to Reality – AI in the Mobility Sector’. In addition to Susanne Henckel, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, the following will take part: Chairman of the Board and CEO, Deutsche Bahn, Dr. Richard Lutz; Director General of the Moroccan National Railways Office (ONCF), Mohamed Rabie Khlie; Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO, Alstom, Henri Poupart-Lafarge; CEO, Siemens Mobility, Michael Peter; and CEO, CAF Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, Javier Martínez Ojinaga. On the subsequent opening tour the guests will visit selected exhibitors at InnoTrans.
This year, InnoTrans is attracting particular interest from politicians. On Wednesday, 25 September 2024, Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck, Governing Mayor of Berlin Kai Wegner, and Berlin’s Senator for Transport and the Environment Ute Bonde are due to attend.
Access to all the world’s markets
At InnoTrans 2024, 2,940 exhibitors from 59 countries are displaying their latest products and services. Occupying 42 display halls on a total area of 200,000 square metres, the exhibition grounds are fully booked. “No other mobility trade show gathers so many decision-makers, movers and visionaries, where they can exchange ideas, negotiate business and finalise investments“, said Kerstin Schulz, director of InnoTrans. “A single visit gives trade visitors the opportunity to gain access to all the world’s markets.“ 32 international associations from 17 countries and 27 transport companies from 15 countries are taking part as exhibitors in the world’s leading trade fair for transport technology.
Cutting-edge technology with a focus on eco-friendliness, safety and comfort
Trade visitors can look forward to 226 world innovations in five show segments: Railway Technology, Railway Infrastructure, Public Transport, Interiors and Tunnel Construction. The products and services on display range from a battery fuel cell-powered locomotive and an AI-based algorithm for timetables and barrier-free access to mainline trains, to anti-graffiti film for glass surfaces. All innovations are marked individually on the stands and maps of the halls. Visitors to the show can find an overview and detailed product descriptions in the World Innovation Guide online at www.innotrans.de.
On the Outdoor Display exhibitors are presenting 133 new vehicles with forward-looking features on 3,500 metres of rail track. Thus, among the products Siemens Mobility is exhibiting is Velaro, a high-speed train designed for the Egyptian market. Developed to withstand extreme weather conditions, it combines relevant design features with premium passenger comfort. Alstom is displaying its Coradia Max™ regional train for Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen mbH (LNVG), which combines a single and double-decker design. It is also exhibiting Flexity™, Berlin’s longest tram, whose standout features include roominess, sustainability and innovative safety systems such as the Obstacle Detection Assistance System (ODAS).
Stadler is displaying the RS ZERO for the first time to the public at InnoTrans. With its combination of fuel cell and battery electric power, the train, which is designed for regional lines, operates emissions-free. With its CITYLINK for Saarbahn, the company is exhibiting an urban transport option. The combination of a tram and train can service a city and its surrounding region with no connecting transport. Vossloh Rolling Stock is taking part with its Modula BFC hybrid locomotive, which combines hydrogen and hybrid drive systems to efficiently transport goods on different lines.
DB Bahnbaugruppe and DB Engineering & Consulting are presenting their 360° multi-sensor platform (MSP), which combines the use of various sensors and measurement systems on a single rail maintenance vehicle. The Mobile Mapping System, comprising a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and a laser scanner, produces a 3D image of the ground. A camera captures a 360° image of the surroundings, while an optional georadar inspects the underside of the rails.
Other exhibits on the Outdoor Display include Hitachi Rail’s ETR1000, a high-speed train compatible with various European electric power supply systems, and CRRC’s ultra energy-efficient CINOVA, a train designed for regional lines. Hyundai Rotem is presenting its new fuel cell-powered tram, which features low noise, high energy efficiency and rapid refuelling.
On the Bus Display in the Summer Garden, trade visitors can watch live demonstrations of 11 buses with alternative drives systems on a 500-metre long circuit. Taking part for the first time is China’s BYD Company, which is exhibiting three buses, including its B12 electric bus with a range of up to 600 km. The Hungarian manufacturer Ikarus is displaying two electric buses: the Ikarus 120e, the V4 version of its 12 m city bus, and the Ikarus midi bus, an 8 m electric bus. Other highlights include an ARTHUR ZERO fuel cell bus from ARTHUR BUS, an E-Bus 3.0 from EBUSCO, and a self-driving bus from Karsan. Exhibitors such as SBRS and Mont-Ele are exhibiting their latest charging infrastructure solutions.
Discussions on tomorrow’s transport
The InnoTrans Convention with its numerous high-level podium discussions and debates among experts on current and future mobility issues has always been the platform for a face-to-face exchange of views. Its heartbeat is the Dialog Forums which will take place daily at palais.Berlin. They are coordinated by the German Railway Industry Association (VDB), the German Transport Forum (DVF), the Association of the European Rail Industry (UNIFE), the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (ZVEI) and the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV).
In addition to the Dialog Forums, InnoTrans provides an opportunity to exchange views on topics relating to every segment at the show. Whether at the International Design Forum, International Bus Forum, International Tunnel Forum, DB Innovation Forum or Public Transport Forum – trade visitors can look forward to fascinating speakers and discussions. Full details of the events at the InnoTrans Convention can be found on InnoTrans Plus.
Young, diverse and inclusive – supporting programme reflects mobility trends
The InnoTrans supporting programme also features attractive formats. This year sees the launch of the Railway Influencer Festival. On 27 September 2024 at the Marshall Haus, selected exhibitors can for the first time meet and network with influencers, bloggers and YouTubers. An independent jury will also honour the winners of three categories on YouTube (Best InnoTrans Video, Best Brand Video and Best Mobility Channel) with the Railway Influencer Award.
On Tuesday, 24 September 2024, from 12.30 to 2.30 p.m., the Women in Mobility initiative is holding a luncheon at palais.Berlin. Speakers invited include Vice Chair of the Executive Board of the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) Paloma Iribas Forcat and Director of Research & Innovation, CEMOSA (Spain) Noemi Jiménez-Redondo.
On Wednesday, 25 September 2024 at 12.30 p.m., the Women in Rail Award 2024 will be presented on the stand of EU Rail. The prize recognises outstanding achievements by women in the rail industry and the activities of organisations and companies which have paved the way for greater fairness, diversity and equality in this sector. The prize will be awarded in the categories Women Empowerment, Leadership & Mentoring and Research & Innovation.
Another event taking place on Wednesday, 25 September 2024 is the Hospitality Forum at the CityCube. Organised by the International Rail Catering Group (IRCG) and under the heading ’Train Catering – Designing the Future’, it will also discuss the latest trends and innovations in onboard catering.
AI-based solutions and cybersecurity at the AI Mobility Lab
Digital solutions are becoming increasingly important in the transport sector. However, this also increases the risk of cyberattacks. InnoTrans is launching the AI Mobility Lab, an exhibition area dedicated to this topic, in the Public Transport segment in Hall 7.1a. 42 exhibitors from 17 countries are showcasing their expertise in AI, robotics, data protection and cybersecurity, including Google Cloud, CRRC Academy and Cisco. Among them is Next Generation Robotics, which is exhibiting its new multimodal robotic platform for automatically inspecting rail vehicle running gear. Isarsoft is showing its AI-based video analysis tool for planning, operations and security. One of the highlights of the supporting programme will be a lecture by the cybersecurity expert Mirko Ross, CEO of Asvin.
Mobility+ for seamless networking
Passenger demand for flexible transport is growing. Thus, on-demand and ride sharing services are becoming an increasingly important aspect of public transport. In the Mobility+ exhibition area in Hall 7.1c, 34 companies and transport associations are presenting their complementary mobility services, including some world innovations. Exhibits range from on-demand driving systems, mobility apps and vehicle pooling platforms to solutions for covering the first and last mile.
Next generation meets recruiters
The InnoTrans Campus in Hall 7.2c is where companies and newcomers can come together. At the RecruitingLAB, exhibitors can hold brief presentations introducing their companies. One event that HR managers cannot afford to miss is the Eurailpress Career Boost on 25 September at 2 p.m., where they can personally get to know many applicants. At the Elevator Pitch on the Talent Stage, job seekers from five fields will each introduce themselves for 90 seconds. They range from technical specialists, engineers, IT experts, skilled workers such as locomotive drivers and train shunting personnel, to those in commerce, in financial controlling, scheduling or procurement for example.
InnoTrans also supports young talented newcomers from all over the world, with national and international association sponsoring awards for special achievements and ideas. At InnoTrans 2024, 16 Career Award winners are due to attend.
