On 22 September, EPF attended the leading international trade fair for transport technology widely known as InnoTrans that takes place every two years in Berlin. Sub-divided into the five trade fair segments namely: Railway Infrastructure, Public Transport, Railway Technology, Interiors and Tunnel Construction, InnoTrans occupies all 42 halls available at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds.

At InnoTrans, EPF met with several public transport manufacturers to see and hear how they cater for passenger needs directly or through transport operators. Additionally, at the Exhibition Grounds, EPF had the opportunity to explore one of the unique features of InnoTrans which is its outdoor and track display area where everything from tank wagons to high-speed trains are displayed on 3500 meters of track. On the track, vehicle manufacturers get the possibility to demonstrate busses on a static Bus display area.

On the same day, EPF managed to visit the Shift2Rail/Europe’s Rail booth where they discussed about the importance of getting better railways that ensure safety, reliability, accessibility (user-friendliness), affordability and offers better infrastructure through research and innovation. Furthermore, EPF also had a separate meeting with Josef Doppenbauer, Executive Director of European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) where they had a constructive dialogue on standardization in the rail world and to progress to achieve a single European railway area with easy cross-border connections and the harmonization of rolling stock.