InnoTrans 2012, the International Trade Fair for Transport Technology, will officially open today, 18 September, in Berlin Messe. InnoTrans is the largest international event dedicated to the presentation of the latest railway technology, rolling stock, equipment and services. The event includes a large exhibition in several halls of Berlin Messe, an outdoor display of real trains, railway and public transport equipment and an intensive programme of conferences, meetings and specific presentations on various issues.

A UIC delegation, led by Director-General Jean-Pierre Loubinoux, and including several Directors and Senior Advisors from UIC technical departments, is participating in InnoTrans to support the strong presence of Member railways. Currently a large number of UIC Member railways from around the world participate in the InnoTrans event with exhibition stands, most of them demonstrating a high degree of innovation and creativity with the aim of presenting the professional public with an overview of their latest achievements and research trends. The Member railways’ senior management is also strongly represented among the trade fair visitors.

A number of Member railways take advantage of the presence of the worldwide railway and transport community in Berlin to give specific presentations on their strategies, projects and achievements.

During InnoTrans UIC is organising a meeting of the International Railway Research Board (IRRB), a worldwide structure for benchmarking and exchange on railway research programmes across the world, and will be participating as one of the founding members at the Organising Committee of the World Congress on Railway Research (WCRR) – also organised by Deutsche Bahn in Berlin. In addition UIC is well represented in several activities, conferences and events organised by its members or by partner organisations and railway associations such as the European Railway Agency (ERA), ERRAC, UNIFE, CER,..