A new S-Bahn (light rail) vehicle for Berlin, an entire rail-mounted concrete factory on a single wagon, and an innovative passenger and goods transportation system – these are just some of the innovations making their debut on the world stage from 18 to 21 September at InnoTrans 2018. Starting today, exhibitors, trade visitors and journalists can find out more online at www.innotrans.de/en/Innovations about the new products on show.

In the run-up to InnoTrans the Innovation Report will be updated at regular intervals. It currently contains 50 innovations from 15 countries, including 20 world debuts. Journalists can also obtain this innovation guide in print directly at InnoTrans after it opens.

Trade fair highlights in September will include a futuristic transportation system by Terreplane Technologies, a company from Columbia/USA. The system is powered by glider-type vehicles that propel themselves with wheels or linear motors at high speed along guideways consisting of 1.5 inch diameter cables. The infrastructure resembles the towers and cables employed on aerial lifts. The company claims that costs can be reduced by four-fifths compared to car, train and air transport.

Together with one of its partners, the French company Ateliers d’Occitanie has designed rail-mounted concrete factories in varying sizes, ranging from an entire train to a single wagon. These are used in tunnel construction, for example. Mounted on a single wagon, the new type of concrete factory has a capacity of 12 cubic metres.

At InnoTrans 2018 the Siemens/Stadler manufacturing group will be exhibiting the first of a new generation of trains for Berlin’s S-Bahn system. Comprising four carriages, this open-plan, walk-in unit from the DB 484 series is to go into service in the German capital in 2021.

Digitisation – a key topic

In the age of Industry 4.0, big data and artificial intelligence, more and more exhibitors are devoting their attention to areas where digitisation plays a major part. Their focus is on efficient transport, environmental protection and safety in equal measure. Companies from Germany, Spain and Switzerland provide examples:

CN-Consult from Mittenaar in Germany makes use of digital systems with the aim of providing passengers with information on train arrivals and connections in real time. To achieve this they have developed DiLoc®|OnBoard, a hardware-independent software system. The Spanish company Revenga Smart Solutions, a newcomer to InnoTrans, is exhibiting CiberTrack, a rail-bound security system that protects against cyberattacks. The Swiss company FAIRTIQ is marketing an app that identifies the user’s geographical location and requires only one click to purchase a fare, thus eliminating the tedious search for a ticket machine.

About InnoTrans

InnoTrans is the world’s leading trade fair for transport technology and takes place every two years in Berlin. At the last event 2,955 exhibitors from 60 countries presented the global rail industry’s innovations to 137,391 trade visitors who came from 119 countries. The five segments at InnoTrans are Railway Technology, Railway Infrastructure, Public Transport, Interiors and Tunnel Construction. InnoTrans is organised by Messe Berlin. The twelfth edition of InnoTrans will take place on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds from 18 to 21 September 2018. More details are available online at www.innotrans.com.