RBD InnoTrans review magazine 2022

‘InnoTrans 2022 has made a phenomenal return. At last the industry family came together again’

From countries all over the world, 2,834 exhibitors gathered in 42 display halls to take part in the muchanticipated 13th InnoTrans - which was visited by more than 140,000 rail professionals.

The world’s largest trade fair for transport technology opened its doors at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds in Germany from 20 to 23 September, after being postponed twice due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

After four years, this was the first time the entire world of transport technology was able to meet again, this year with the theme: ’The Future of Mobility in Times of Climate Change.’

Over the years, InnoTrans has become

firmly established as an international meeting place for top decision-makers from the business, political and transport communities.

And with 250 world premieres, the exhibitors presented more innovations than ever before this year. Trade visitors were also able to view 128 vehicles and exhibits on the track and outdoor areas.

The event was officially opened on Tuesday, 20 September and more than 1,000 invited guests attended the opening event attended by European Union Commissioner Adina Vălean and Federal Transport Minister Dr. Volker Wissing.

Martin Ecknig, CEO of Messe Berlin

told guests: “Nothing comes close to meeting in person, seeing old friends again and making new contacts on the stands and at the many specialist events that accompany the trade fair.

“No video presentation, regardless of how well made, can replace seeing, hearing, smelling and even testing products at the event.”

At this year’s InnoTrans the proportion of first-time visitors was particularly high at 56 percent. A total of 57.3 percent of visitors come from abroad. The high rate confirms InnoTrans’ status as the world’s leading trade fair.

Kerstin Schulz, Director of InnoTrans described the show’s return as “phenomenal.”

Berlin GmbH

She said: “After the pandemic-induced break, InnoTrans 2022 has made a phenomenal return. At last the industry family has come together again.

“After a long wait we were able to exchange ideas in person and look each other in the eye.”

InnoTrans is renowned for worldfirsts, and this year, visitors were able to view around 250 world innovations in the five segments: Railway Technology, Railway Infrastructure, Public Transport, Interiors and Tunnel Construction, along with its own outdoor and track display area, which featured rolling-stock, wagons, railway track machinery, roadrail vehicles and even a bus display area.

InnoTrans shows today what will be on the rail and road tomorrow

Martin Ecknig, CEO of Messe Berlin

The innovative products offer solutions to the challenges of transport technology such as sustainability, digitalisation, connectivity and safety.

Trade visitors were primarily interested in rail transport technology, rail transport infrastructure and the 3.5-kilometre track and outdoor exhibition area.

Vehicles on display included hydrogen-powered trains. Siemens Mobility presented its Mireo Plus H, the next generation of hydrogen-powered trains, as well as the Mireo Plus B, which

features a high-performance modular battery system.

Among the exhibits being shown by Alstom on the outdoor display area was the double-decker Coradia Stream, a high-capacity train for regional services, and the Traxx locomotive featuring a last-mile option, which uses the European Train Control System (ETCS).

Stadler took part with seven vehicles this year. For the first time the company showed the public its hydrogenpowered FLIRT H2 multiple unit train for the American passenger rail market.

For the first time, Südostbayernbahn (SOB) presented an innovative train (Ideenzug) which it has developed.

This “laboratory of the future on rails” features ten different modules, seven in-house designed seating systems, newly designed doors, as well as office compartments and a passenger information system that among other things displays free seats.

The Slovakian goods wagon manufacturer Tatravagónka supplemented its hall exhibits with six vehicles on the outdoor display area.

Vossloh, Plasser & Theurer, Robel,

Daimler Truck, Thales, Hitachi and many other exhibitors also took part.

Rail transport is increasingly becoming part of a world of networked mobility. InnoTrans 2022 has taken this trend into account by introducing the new Mobility+ segment.

Exhibitors displaying supplementary mobility services came together with national and international transport companies, transport networks and administrations and presented their concepts and systems to the industry.

Exhibitors’ products and services ranged from shared mobility, mobility apps with travel information, booking and payment functions, to technology solutions such as on-demand transit systems and flying objects such as drones.

Solutions such as first/last mile options as well as ride-sharing providers were also represented. The Mobility+ Corner discussed new forms of networked mobility, and at five other Speakers’ Corners companies held keynote speeches with ideas on new products and industry news.

Reflecting on the event, Martin Ecknig, CEO of Messe Berlin added: “InnoTrans has once again impressively demonstrated that it is the industry summit that shows today what will be on the rail and road tomorrow.

“Here exhibitors present technologies for sustainable mobility first.

“InnoTrans is also a platform for international exchange for a transEuropean transport network.”

And for those who could not be there, the live streams on the InnoTrans website were available to compliment the personal face-to-face exchange at the fair and are still available via InnoTrans Plus to view.

Martin Ecknig, CEO of Messe Berlin ©Messe Berlin GmbH

UK’s impressive rail offer promoted at networking reception

One of the highlights at InnoTrans was the Railway Industry Association (RIA) UK reception, where 330 guests from 25 countries gathered at the British Embassy.

Held on Wednesday, September 21, the event was hosted by the British Ambassador to Germany, Jill Gallard CMG, with the Department for International Trade and RIA.

The prestigious event provided an ideal platform for the many companies to network and engage with key contacts.

Department for Transport (DfT) Director Dan Moore was guest speaker at the event, which was sponsored by Rail Products UK, Xrail, Rail Business Daily, British Steel, Furrer+Frey and Pandrol.

Mr Moore had been taken on tours of the exhibition on Tuesday and Wednesday, meeting many RIA members at their stands.

The event was also attended by key influencers, government officials and industry leaders, to mark the British railway industry’s participation at InnoTrans 2022.

Ambassador Jill Gallard welcomed everyone to the British Embassy, and also gave special mention to Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region, who was at InnoTrans to see the new train for Merseytravel, that would be launched the next day.

She said: “The railway industry employs nearly a quarter of a million people in the UK.

The

RIA Chief Executive Darren Caplan listens as the DfT’s Dan Moore speaks to British rail industry representatives.

“I am particularly proud, as British Ambassador, that we were the first major economy to make a legal commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and that sustainable commitment is so key to our government’s ethos. And the railway industry plays a huge role in all of that.

“The UK has committed to the roll-out of digital technology when we published our digital railway strategy four years ago.

“That digitalisation is a critical enabler of a more sustainable, resilient and reliable railway and a new transport era.”

RIA Chief Executive, Darren Caplan thanked the evening’s sponsors and everyone for attending.

“It’s fantastic to be back in Berlin to attend InnoTrans after a four-year break caused by the pandemic,” he said.

“This week has shown once again that the UK rail supply sector is an exporting powerhouse, selling the very best innovations, products and services to the rest of the world while also helping to innovate and improve our railways at home.

“I’d like to thank the British Ambassador to Germany, Jill Gallard CMG, for hosting us at the British Embassy, and the DfT’s Dan Moore for coming to Berlin to meet so many RIA members, attend the reception, and show welcome Government

support for the rail supply sector at an international level.”

Dan Moore, Director of Rail Strategy and Analysis at the DfT said he was impressed with the UK suppliers exhibiting.

He said: “InnoTrans is a display of world-leading rail technology and innovation and I have been struck by the calibre of exhibiting UK suppliers.

“It was fantastic to speak to many exhibiting UK companies to understand the opportunities and challenges they face in markets around the world.

“The Government is committed to supporting and growing rail exports and I wish all suppliers a successful InnoTrans”.

Rail professionals gathered at the British Embassy for a networking reception.

Delegates enjoy the networking reception

McCulloch Group – making on track working safer and more efficient

McCulloch Group is a Scottishbased company which provides the world’s railways with innovative solutions to improve safety and efficiency on track.

Now operating in the UK, Europe, North America and Australasia, McCulloch Group’s fleet of machines takes on railway maintenance tasks that would otherwise be time-consuming, costly, and sometimes dangerous, to carry out manually.

Here’s a breakdown of the kit and the problems it’s solving across the world’s railways:

Trac Rail Transposer (TRT)

The invention that kick-started it all was the Trac Rail Transposer (the TRT), a mobile, remote-controlled machine which lifts and moves sizeable lengths of rail and associated ironwork across project landscapes.

In the last 15 years, the TRT has operated in the UK with 99.7 per cent proven reliability and is now trusted by infrastructural organisations such as Network Rail, Paris Metro, London Underground and Kiwi Rail. It also has a variety of attachments which minimize the need for other equipment on track, including a rail saw, a plough, and a jib arm.

TRTe

The newest member of the fleet, launched in September 2022, the TRTe offers all the same services as the TRT but with the added benefit of being entirely electric.

It has been designed in response to the climate crisis and the need for rail organisations to meet ambitious net-zero targets. Entirely battery powered, the TRTe also reduces noise pollution on track, an issue which is faced by many projects operating near residential areas.

Panel Lifter

This patented system removes and replaces rail panels swiftly and safely. Another remote-controlled piece of technology, the Panel Lifter creates

an instant exclusion zone which eliminates any handling issues and keeps on-track teams safe while panels are removed and replaced.

It works incredibly quickly, meaning it’s a more efficient process – an incredibly important factor to consider on projects with limited possession timescales.

MMPV

The MMPV is a self-mounting, selfpropelled vehicle which, with a crane attachment, can also be self-loading. It can be adapted to a variety of tasks on the railways and is best put to use in environments where significant volumes of materials and track furniture need to be moved, where waste and equipment need to be removed from the infrastructure, and where track occupation times are limited due to scheduled train movements.

InfiniTy

The McCulloch InfiniTy (previously known as the TCT) is a solution that lifts, transports, and dispenses cable from pre-wound cable reels. Again, it’s an entirely remote-controlled piece of kit and so completes this task more safely and efficiently than traditional methods.

The rubber-tracked machine is easily moveable across the infrastructure and can lift and dispense reels of cable up to 1600mm in diameter and two metric tons in weight.

Contact us

To find out more about the McCulloch Group products, visit mccullochgroup.com or follow us on LinkedIn to see the machines hard at work on the world’s railways.

McCulloch Group’s fleet of machines takes on railway maintenance tasks that would otherwise be time-consuming, costly, and sometimes dangerous, to carry out manually.

Operated during the day or at night

Stadler officially launches two new train fleets for Wales

Transport for Wales and these new trains are a key part of improving the customer experience, so that we can encourage more people to travel sustainably on public transport. These are modern trains, with high quality features that will offer our customers more accessible, reliable and greener transport.”

Meanwhile, a tri-mode Class 756 destined for TfW was also officially unveiled at the show.

Strong environmental credentials and the use of battery power characterise the FLIRT Class 756 tri-mode.

Two new fleets destined for Transport for Wales (TfW) were officially unveiled by Stadler at InnoTrans.

One of the 36 Citylink vehicles ordered by TfW was displayed.

The Class 398 is a tram-train that can operate on both train and main line networks. The TfW Class 398 is also equipped with a battery for the first time, enabling use on non-electrified lines, and therefore underscores Stadler’s strong environmental credentials and commitment to decarbonisation.

The tram-trains can run purely electrically on both AC 25kV electrified lines and non-electrified lines.

They have a driver’s cab at each end and can reach speeds of 62mph (100km/h). Each Class 398 is 40 metres long and can carry 252 passengers. Passenger compartments are spacious, bright and air-conditioned, and there are multifunctional areas for bicycles, seats for people with reduced mobility, as well as two wheelchair passenger spaces.

Dynamic testing is currently taking place at Network Rail’s Rail Innovation and Development Centre (RIDC) in Melton Mowbray. TfW plans to introduce the first Class 398s into passenger service next year.

Ralf Warwel, sales director for the UK and Ireland at Stadler, said: “The Citylink boasts enviable environmental credentials and will bring about a step-change in passenger travel. It illustrates Stadler’s pledge to provide ever greener solutions, supporting the decarbonisation of the railway, both in Wales and beyond.”

The trains will operate on the Welsh Valley lines and are part of the contract signed by Stadler and TfW in January 2019, comprising 35 FLIRT trains in total and 36 Citylink Class 398 tram-trains. Twenty-four of the Class 756s will be trimodes, capable of running on lines with overhead electric wires as well as with battery power and diesel.

The use of batteries on the tri-modes will enable a fully electric service north of Cardiff, known as “smart electrification”, to prevent costly infrastructure upgrades for the client. Seven three-car Class 756/0 and 17 four-car Class 756/1s will make up the tri-mode fleet; the remaining 11 Class 231/0 FLIRTs are diesel powered. These trains have already been delivered to Wales and are undergoing testing and commissioning.

Seats on the FLIRTs have been ergonomically designed to maximise passenger comfort and each one will be fitted with power sockets, said Stadler. All trains feature air-conditioning, areas for wheelchairs, pushchairs and bicycles, and wide passenger information screens, displaying up-tothe-minute travel information.

Stadler said that the three-car Class 398s are modular, barrier-free light rail vehicles designed to connect city centres with outlying areas. They will operate on the South Wales Metro lines.

Alexia Course, TfW chief commercial officer said: “We’re extremely proud to have our new Stadler trains on show at InnoTrans this year and we’re excited to start introducing them to our Wales and Borders network over the coming months and years.

“We’re on a transformational journey at

Noise and vibrations will be kept to a minimum, with the new trains quieter than the current fleet. Low flooring at every door will reduce dwell time and make it easier for passengers to get on and off. There will be space for up to six bikes on each train.

The first Class 231s will enter traffic later this year, with authorisation for their introduction received from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) earlier this summer.”

Noise and vibrations will be kept to a minimum, with the new trains quieter than the current fleet

©Stadler

GCRE showcases railway innovation

InnoTrans proved to be a great event for the team from the Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) to demonstrate how the major infrastructure project in South Wales will become the ‘one stop shop’ for railway innovation.

Visitors tried out the augmented reality facility designed by PAULEY, which demonstrates how GCRE will become a modern and comprehensive rail testing and innovation facility.

This includes the capacity and capabilities for rigorous testing of rolling stock, infrastructure, and integrated systems from prototype to implementation.

support to industry R&D activities taking place at the test centre.

Another exciting signing was the agreement with the Orange Train Wash (OTW). GCRE and OTW agreed to collaborate to bring a revolutionary train washing capability to market. Such fantastic technology is a first within its field and is a real example of how GCRE can be used to accelerate innovation in the industry.

Those leading GCRE hope that the project will be a catalyst for the creation of a rail technology hub in Wales, providing a flexible, open-market platform for leading R&D activity that drives and accelerates innovation on the journey to net-zero.

GCRE took the opportunity at InnoTrans to announce a new partnership with the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE). The two organisations signed a collaboration agreement to partner on R&D and innovation activities.

BCRRE is the largest specialist railway research, education and innovation centre in Europe and was selected by the Welsh Government to lead the development of a Centre of Excellence for Railway Testing and Validation. This Centre will sit alongside the new test track that is being built.

Working alongside several Welsh universities, including Cardiff and Swansea, BCRRE will establish an R&D centre that will undertake industryfocused research and innovation activities.

By locating at the facility, BCRRE will be able to provide strategic and technical

Kelly Warburton, Chief Commercial Officer for GCRE was at InnoTrans. She said: “GCRE will support the development and testing of rail sector principles, standards and specifications; improving the UK’s competitive strengths as a world leader in achieving carbon neutrality, contributing to an overall decrease in carbon emissions across the rail

industry, boosting exports and enabling greater efficiency in a lower cost reliable railway.

“The facility will include two test loops, one being a 6.9km electrified high speed rolling stock track with a speed of 177km/h and the other a 4km 65km/h test track.

“Other facilities will include a dualplatform test environment, rolling stock storage and maintenance facilities, operations and control offices, staff accommodation, shunting staff facilities and connections to the nearby main line.

“It really is a major infrastructure project that will provide state-of-the-art rolling stock testing, infrastructure testing and storage and maintenance for the UK and international rail industry.

“InnoTrans was the perfect event for us to showcase what GCRE will have to offer the industry and we’re delighted to have had so much support and engagement throughout the internationally recognised four-day event.”

GCRE was first established by the Welsh Government as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in 2021 with an initial commitment of £50 million.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is expected to confirm £8 million for research and development along with capital funding of £20 million.

An investment prospectus to attract private funding for the project is also in development, ready for launch in the autumn of 2022.

You can find out more here: tfw.wales/projects/gcre

Those leading GCRE hope that the project will be a catalyst for the creation of a rail technology hub in Wales

Demonstrating AIVR: time-saving, cost efficient and increasing safety

Exhibiting for the first time within the UK Pavilion at InnoTrans 2022, One Big Circle demonstrated the capability of the multi-award-winning AIVR technology which captures video imagery via multiple different devices.

The AIVR product range consists of intelligent video capability including forward-facing, overhead and thermal imagery, as well as the new innovative AIVR Focus devices which capture line scanning footage to inspect the condition of mainline rail tracks or conductor rails.

Aimed at improving operational efficiency and safety, AIVR provides advanced digital inspection, allowing users to locate, measure, annotate and analyse images whilst also carrying out planning, sighting, reporting and sharing within and across teams and groups.

AIVR can also be integrated with a range of fault detection systems or have Machine Learning applied to the footage

collected to automatically detect assets and anomalies, allowing users to see what they need to see the most.

InnoTrans enabled the One Big Circle team to demonstrate the safety, cost, and time-saving benefits of AIVR to a wider audience.

Emily Kent, Director, said: “It’s been fantastic showcasing AIVR to an international audience.

“As an SME, we are looking to expand into the international market and InnoTrans gave us the platform to

meet with prospective customers and partners to demonstrate the benefits of AIVR.”

Experience to date has estimated an eight-hour site visit or cab ride is saved for every hour a user reviews AIVR footage online. This significantly helps reduce the number of ‘boots on ballast’, therefore reducing risk of life-endangerment, and making our railways safer every day whilst contributing to a sustainable future and a greener environment.

Powered by

Go Focus Thermal

Users can access digital tools which allow them to locate, measure, annotate, and analyse images whilst also carrying out planning, sighting, reporting, and sharing within and across teams and groups.

The multi-award-winning AIVR system provides digital inspection capability and more, enabling experts from any rail discipline to monitor the lineside environment remotely and safely.

The AIVR systems collect and transmit a range of data - from Forward Facing Video to Thermal, Overhead to Line Scanning and IR Data can be integrated with a range of fault detection systems or have Machine Learning applied to automatically detect assets and anomalies.

A different mobility ‘universe’ is taking shape and common themes are emerging

management structure is the first step of a cultural shift and will take time to fully establish and make an impact. But for organisations wishing to do better and compete at the highest level, a lack of design awareness at high level will ultimately be a significant handicap to commercial ambition.

• How can the industry do better, and do more with less

• Mobility is evolving: sustainability and decarbonisation demand different thinking

• Working in isolation predominates in the mobility sector. It needs to work smarter and not in silos

• Although the industry is recovering from an awful 100-year event, customer wants and needs have changed and the sector remains glacially slow to respond

• Opportunities are being lost but can easily be regained: we have to work smarter

Design remains our corecompetence although our skill set is being applied outside the design studio.

There is still more to be accomplished but helping to solve complicated customer-facing problems is where we make a real difference. ‘Making things happen’ is an important part of our business, using a methodology we define as integrated design. It can positively impact on pace of change, innovation and an improved likelihood of success.

‘Design is the focus: it is the catalyst to develop a better, more compelling and sustainable future’.

We have over thirty years’ experience in the mobility sector. Our design acumen and experience is used by businesses looking for innovation and fresh ideas in a safety-driven culture which finds change challenging.

Design and design-management are used beyond the obvious areas of

design, to drive change elsewhere in a business applying what was once defined as design-thinking, which integrates how we design, what we design, who we are designing for, and the design-life of the integrated product or service we create. It is human-centred and produces sustainable and enduring outcomes. A wider design focus wholly embraced within a business is more cost-effective, efficient and a valuable enterprise.

The focus on multi-dimensional/ integrated products and services leads to cleaner, better, more enduring outcomes, combining innovation, challenges assumptions and creates a sustainable, future-proof mobility sector.

These products and services are more enduring, will deliver smarter, better products which are likely to last for upwards of thirty to forty years, before being repurposed at end of life.

It is no longer about short-term ambitions, it is about an approach which can help deliver meaningful, enduring and sustainable change, for its customers, operators and the business.

Value of design

Despite its importance to the value of a company many businesses do not see design as a process or strategic resourcethey view it as a cost not an investment.

Importantly, they fail to see it as a means to enhance the enterprise. A design leader at senior level, coordinating design, engineering, new product development integrated with marketing and new business function is likely to create a significant ROI.

Recognising the need for C-suite leadership and an integrated design

Sceptics of design may take a view that design is superficial, something added after the real work has been completed. An integrated approach to market share, turnover and profit are boardroom collateral, however, predicting where to take the business, create value, undertake disruptive innovation, win new business and respond to emerging customer wants and needs requires a very different approach and multidisciplinary thinking from a wide circle of expertise.

Design-led companies are different. They use design to differentiate their business and apply its principles strategically providing the executive board knows how. It is being applied throughout business as a mechanism for change, although it will remain as an unexploited ambition without design leadership and the buy-in from the boardroom.

Integrated design, integrated mobility.

Design is the focus: it is the catalyst to develop a better, more compelling and sustainable future

Passengers demand improved charging infrastructure in the travel and transport sector

It goes without saying the best passenger experience is a smooth journey from A to B.

With the ever-increasing adoption of smartphones, tablets, and digital watches among other devices1, the stress of preparing for a long journey, ensuring all devices you’re bringing with you are charged, is all too familiar.

B y making charging points more accessible across the transport sector, you can prevent battery anxiety and ensure a more relaxing passenger experience.

Amidst the world’s digital revolution, most are familiar with the terms ‘paperless travel’, ‘contactless’ or ‘NFC’ (near field communication) technology. In every walk of life, we are encouraged to use and rely on our mobile devices to pay, collect loyalty points, manage tickets, to call friends, email colleagues and be social. So, it can only be expected that along their journey, people need to be able to power their devices.

Passengers’ current dissatisfaction with charging infrastructure across the transport sector is reflected in the Spring 2020 National Rail Report 2 , reporting that 48 per cent of people are dissatisfied with the availability of power sockets while travelling. In addition, the forecasted market increase for portable power banks (expected to expand at a CAGR of

18.1 per cent from 2022 to 2030 due to the increasing consumption of rechargeable batteries in consumer electronics 3 ), supports the consumer demand to be able to power devices wherever and whenever they need to.

Currently, while travelling, power availability is never guaranteed, technology varies between carriage classifications 4 and availability differs from region to region. Typically, the options available are USB-A ports that are limited to charging legacy devices. USB-A is rapidly becoming old technology, unsuitable for the modern devices and charging cables that passengers are carrying.

As technology is constantly developing, when current tech inevitably becomes outdated, this costs budget and scheduled maintenance time to overhaul transport with new technology that will satisfy customers’ needs. So how can you keep up?

Lee Walker of OE Electric’s Transport Division discusses the future of USB technology and its effect on the travel and transport sector.

He said: “We are seeing the demand for USB-C dominate the market.

“Offering smart power delivery technology, USB-C is capable of delivering a fast charge to mobile devices, suiting those on short-haul trips.

“Also, high-power USB-C technology will no longer require passengers to carry

bulky adapters for charging laptops, they can simply use a USB-C cable.”

A recent update in European law forces all future smartphones sold in the EU to be equipped with the universal USB-C port for wired charging by 2025.5 This standardisation offers a solution that benefits passengers all across Europe, unlike location specific AC power sockets.

With replaceable USB modules on the market, power can be specified for ease of maintenance and upgraded to keep up with the latest technology.

By investing in replaceable technology, you extend the lifespan of the transport technology and service you are offering, ensuring customer satisfaction for years to come with the ability to upgrade or replace modules that are damaged from improper use in seconds, without switching off power.

Ask your charging point supplier how their products are future-proofed to protect you from outdated technology, upsetting the passenger experience.

To find out more about replaceable USB-C technology, visit: transport.oeelectrics.co.uk or contact: transport@oeelectrics.co.uk to discuss.

We are seeing the demand for USB-C dominate the market. By investing in replaceable technology, you extend the lifespan of the service you are offering

WHEN SAFETY REALLY MATTERS

Nord-Lock wedge-locking products are recognised around the world for their ability to secure bolted joints exposed to severe vibration and dynamic loads.

The system cannot loosen unintentionally as it creates a wedge underneath the bolt head/nut. An ideal solution for bolted joints where failure is not an option.

Scan the QR code to learn more about our products and services, or visit nord-lock.com

Nord-Lock Ltd

T: +44 1264 355557

E: enquiries@nord-lock.com

InnoTrans 2022 - ‘A unique forum to share our common passions for innovation in transportation’

Once again, InnoTrans 2022 reached its goal to be a unique forum to share our common passions for innovation in transportation.

The Alstom team wishes to thank the thousands of visitors from around the globe who came to experience our sustainable and digital mobility solutions.

It has been a huge emotion to see the industry gathered again after four years.

It was the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to sustainability and our call to modal shift. “Among the many business opportunities captured in Berlin, I wish to highlight the MOUs signed with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, since they support our goal to contribute to the greenest rail network.

InnoTrans is the most important meeting in the industry and we were delighted to finally meet our customers and partners in person again after four years.

Under the motto ‘Destination Digital’ we presented to them our new digital business platform Siemens Xcelerator, with which we want to enable open digital interfaces for continuous data exchange between all subsystems of the rail network.

This will help our customers to provide sustainable, comfortable and cost-efficient rail transport of the future.

The feedback from the visitors clearly confirmed to us how inspiring the personal exchange with our customers and partners is for the future of mobility.

Stadler presented itself as an innovative provider of sustainable solutions for rail at InnoTrans with seven ultra-modern and sustainable vehicles and a broad portfolio in the signalling and service sector.

The response from customers to our world premieres was overwhelming.

At Stadler’s large station, as the market leader for alternative drive technologies, we presented, among other things, the first hydrogen-powered multiple unit FLIRT H2 for the USA.

During the trade fair, we were able to sign a letter of intent with the California State Transportation Agency and the California Department of Transportation for the delivery of four hydrogen trains.

We also had enormous interest in our other exhibits such as the battery electric FLIRT Akku, the latest tram generation TINA or the latest EURO9000 locomotive family.

Henri Poupart-Lafarge

CEO and Chairman of the Board at Alstom

Michael Peter

CEO at Siemens Mobility

Peter Spuhler

CEO at Stadler Rail AG

Andy Doherty Chief Technology Officer at GCRE

This is our seventh visit to InnoTrans. We like to come here, it’s obviously the place to be and it’s important for us to network.

We work very internationally, we’re hosting a dinner at the [British] Embassy and over 100 people are coming to that, and all continents are represented at it apart from Antarctica. We’re doing lots of work in Africa, south America, Asia, so being here at InnoTrans is important to keep all those relationships alive.

We’re signing an agreement with Saudi Arabian railways SAR, around education and research. We’ve been doing work with them and it’s now becoming a more formal agreement, so that’s a nice step.

The University of Birmingham have campus in Dubai so some of that activity will happen here in Birmingham and some will happen in Dubai.

We’ve also signed an agreement with GCRE – the new test track in Wales. We’ve now signed the formal agreement to look to build a centre of excellence in testing and validation, which will both do some testing, but actually really look at the science to testing and how we can do earlier compliance in big projects.

InnoTrans is really important for us because rail is now making up almost half our business globally.

It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet colleagues from all around the world in a time zone different to their own, so you’ve got time to have a good quality conversation.

It’s enabled us to showcase our digital innovation and also, it’s allowed attendees from the company to see the rest of what’s happening in railway technology around the world.

GCRE is a new Welsh railway test facility that we’re building up on an old coal mine near Port Talbot.

We’re here at InnoTrans to share what we’re doing, the opportunity of what we’re doing and explaining the chance for suppliers to test their products properly, to standardise it, authorise it, get it into use, test their trains, test European trains, bring European products to the UK, that enable British companies to sell to Europe.

We’ve got a lot of interest from European countries to do this test track. The European ERJU is interested in doing some testing here because this will be a unique facility in Europe.

The special feature is the infrastructure loop, which will run a train 16 hours per day. It’s an aggressive opportunity to test infrastructure products to their full life, enable us to understand reliability, maintenance requirements and tease out those problems before they’re put on the main railway.

This will be a unique facility in the whole of Europe. It’s the infrastructure we’re testing, normally, on a rolling stock loop you keep the infrastructure test constant, and you vary the train, on the infrastructure loop you keep the train constant and you vary the infrastructure.

It’s a very simple concept, and actually a real opportunity for the UK to be doing something no one else does.

It will be fully operational in 2025, however we hope that the signings and other facilities will start coming online from the middle of 2023.

Clive Roberts Head Director at the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE)

Jol Bates Global Transportation Leader at Mott MacDonald

NOTHING TO SNOOZE AT

Subscribe today for all the best news in UK rail from 7am daily