InnoTrans 2006: The World's Largest Display of Rail Transport Technology Opens in Berlin.

BERLIN -- More Than 1600 Exhibitors from 41 Countries Present Their Innovations - Display Areas Covering over 100,000 Square Metres - New Rail Sections Interiors and Tunnel Construction

The world's largest display of rail transport technology opens its doors on 19 September in Berlin. 1,606 exhibitors from 41 countries will occupy display areas covering over 100,000 square metres, proving that InnoTrans has further consolidated its standing as a leading international industry event. One of the trademarks of this show of high-tech systems is that it attracts a wide international audience. Around half of all the exhibitors are from abroad. Over 50,000 visitors from around the world are expected to be here on the trade visitor days between 19 and 22 September.

172 exhibitors in a display area covering 10,000 square metres attended the first InnoTrans in 1996. Both the exhibitor numbers and the display area have now increased tenfold.

This year each of the display sections will be even larger than in 2004: The Railway Technology, Railway Infrastructure and Public Transport sections, including Information Technology and Services, have all expanded significantly and are occupying additional halls. Railway Infrastructure and Public Transport have already become the size of specialised trade fairs, each fully representing a respective part of the industry. Two new display sections will be celebrating their debut at InnoTrans 2006: Tunnel Construction and Interiors. From the very start the market leaders will be represented in each of these sections.

InnoTrans now an even more international event

Most of the increase in display area size is due to exhibitors from abroad. Those from outside Europe attending InnoTrans include companies from Australia, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Israel, Canada and the USA. Exhibitors from Bahrain, Brazil, Greece, India, Iran, South Africa and Ukraine will be represented at InnoTrans for the first time.

Another aspect reflecting the international dimension of InnoTrans is the presence of 17 joint national stands, organised by industrial associations, chambers of commerce and institutions promoting exports. They include eleven industrial associations from Germany and abroad.

High exhibitor turnout at track and outdoor display area

Once again a feature unique to this trade fair, a track and display area with optimum transport links, makes InnoTrans even more popular. The fully occupied outdoor display area next to the halls measures 20,000 square metres, double the size of 2004. The 2,000 metres of track for presenting rail exhibits are completely booked up.

InnoTrans Convention - an outstanding forum for decision-makers

Top-ranking figures and an international event - aspects yet again of InnoTrans 2006 and its specialist programme of supporting events. The event dominating this compact programme is the InnoTrans Convention, which consists of three main sections: the Dialogue Forum, the European and Asian Rail Summit, and the International Tunnel Forum.

The Dialogue Forum will be devoted to discussing innovative trends in rail transport, future financing of public transport, customers' needs in the context of modern communication systems, and the International Railway Industry Standard. The two-hour discussion rounds have been organised by the German Transport Forum, the Association of German Transport Operators (VDV), the Union of European Railway Industries (UNIFE), and the Association of the Railway Industry in Germany (VDB).

The European and Asian Rail Summit is the traditional InnoTrans meeting place of transport ministers and chief executives of European and Asian transport companies as well as members and observers of the Organisation for Railway Cooperation. Invitations to attend the EARS are being extended by the Federal Minister of Transport, Construction and Urban Development (BMVBS), Wolfgang Tiefensee, and the Chairman of the Board of Deutsche Bahn AG, Hartmut Mehdorn.

The event is co-organised by the Governing Mayor of Berlin and Association of the Railway Industry in Germany (VDB).

Organised by STUVA, the German Research Association for Underground Transportation, the International Tunnel Forum will be providing an information programme to accompany the new display section Tunnel Construction. The two discussion rounds taking place will discuss the following topics: "Tunnel construction of the future - a vision?" and "Tunnel construction: contract awards and financing - a risk?".

The 5th Public Transport Forum will also be held at InnoTrans, and takes place on 21 September 2006. The forum will discuss the current situation and future prospects following 10 years of regional organisation.

A variety of services at the Business Lounge

The Business Lounge is an area in Hall 6.1 where Messe Berlin will be offering trade visitors and exhibitors at InnoTrans 2006 a variety of special services. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the lounge offers a quiet area for meeting customers, negotiating business or simply for a short break away from the hustle and bustle of the fair. Visitors to the lounge will also be able to use the internet cafe, with free online access via WLAN. The Berlin Counter will provide information and advice on evening events in the capital, plus a special ticket service.

Career Point for newcomers to the industry

The Career Point is a new feature at InnoTrans, which takes place from 19 to 22 September, aimed at students, trainees and schoolchildren with a technical interest in the rail sector and public transport. Well-informed advisors from the personnel departments of companies in this field will be available at the Career Point in Hall 4.1 with information about training, careers, career advancement and future prospects in the industry. The exhibitors at the Career Point will be organising conducted tours of their extensive stands each day.

Tour of InnoTrans innovations a highly sought after event

Following its successful premiere at InnoTrans 2004, trade visitors will once again be invited to take part in special tours of InnoTrans innovations, organised by the editorial department of the InnoTrans Report. There will be four tours daily, each taking around 90 minutes. The tours of "Railway Technology, Public Transport and Interiors" will begin at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., and those of the "Infrastructure and Tunnel Construction" sections take place at 11.15 a.m. and 3.15 p.m. respectively. Each tour starts and ends at the Business Lounge, with commentary in both English and German. .

Open days at InnoTrans for all rail enthusiasts

On the last weekend of the trade fair the traditional Station Party will once again be staged in the InnoTrans track and outdoor display area. The rail tracks on the Exhibition Grounds will feature the latest trains, locomotives and rolling stock. Visitors can take a look around some of them, try out the seats and of course photograph and film them. And for old and young railway enthusiasts there will be an original steam engine from days gone by. Not only can visitors take a close look at it, they can also join the driver on the footplate and travel a few hundred metres. There will be wealth of interesting information available from Deutsche Bahn and other exhibitors, as well as a colourful programme of entertainment and information for all the family.

A list of exhibitors attending InnoTrans 2006 as well as additional details are available at www.innotrans.com