Conference program

September 3-4, 2025 | ECC Berlin

2-day conference program with masterminds from the rail industry

The motto of the conference program is "Rail Transport 2030: Smart, Green, Efficient".

Five strategic pillars will be addressed on both days of the conference. The speakers' contributions will shed light on these topics:

Specialists and leadership

Digital railroad

Sustainability and new technologies

Supply chains of the future

Manage growth

Main Stage

Wednesday - September 03, 2025

(All presentations on the main stage will be simultaneously translated into English).

  • 08.00 - 09.00

    Check-in, first meetings and networking at the exhibition

    Estrel Congress Center, Sonnenallee 225, 12057 Berlin
    Estrel Congress Center, Sonnenallee 225, 12057 Berlin
  • 09.00 - 09.20Opening (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    Opening
    Opening, greetings and networking kick-off

  • 09.20 - 09.40Managing growth (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    KEYNOTE | Q&A
    120 new trains, 1,000 modernizations and digital maintenance: this is how we are doubling the number of passengers in regional passenger transport

  • 09.40 - 10.00Sustainability and new technologies (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    KEYNOTE | Q&A
    For people and the environment: How the railroads will expand their market share

  • 10.00 - 10.20Supply chains of the future (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    KEYNOTE | Q&A
    Digital and sustainable supply chains: Why we need to achieve them

  • 10.20 - 11.20

    Coffee break with networking in the exhibition

  • 11.20 - 11.40Digital railroad (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    KEYNOTE | Q&A
    Generative AI in the rail sector: where are we already training systems for the future?

  • 11.40 - 12.30Specialists and leadership (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    MASTERCLASS
    The future of work in the rail sector: recruiting and retaining talent as a strategic task

  • 12.30 - 12.50Digital railroad (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    KEYNOTE | Q&A
    30% more capacity in the network thanks to DSD: status quo for the area roll-out of ETCS and digital interlockings

  • 12.50 - 13.50

    Networking lunch in the exhibition

  • 13.50 - 14.30Supply chains of the future (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    PANEL DISCUSSION
    Global turbulence, political challenges and a stable (global) supply chain

  • 14.30 - 14.50Digital railroad (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    KEYNOTE | Q&A
    Cybersecurity in the rail sector: how do we protect IT and OT?

  • 14.50 - 15.30Mixed topics (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    COMPANY INSIGHTS
    Expert speeches

  • 15.30 - 16.15

    Coffee break with networking in the exhibition

  • 16.15 - 18.00

    Executive Workshops & DB Roundtable

  • 18.00 - 18.30

    Champagne reception and networking in the exhibition

  • From 18.30

    Festive evening reception & dinner speech

Thursday - September 04, 2025

(All presentations on the main stage will be simultaneously translated into English).

  • 08.00 - 09.00


    Check-in, first meetings and networking at the exhibition

    Estrel Congress Center, Sonnenallee 225, 12057 Berlin
    Estrel Congress Center, Sonnenallee 225, 12057 Berlin
  • 09.00 - 09.10Opening (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)


    Opening & Recap Day 1

  • 09.10 - 09.30Sustainability and new technologies (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    KEYNOTE | Q&A
    100% share of renewable energies: from rail transport to the sector's total energy requirements

  • 09.30 - 09.50Leadership and specialists (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    KEYNOTE | Q&A
    Leadership 4.0 and new (digital) leadership roles

  • 09.50 - 10.10Managing growth (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    KEYNOTE | Q&A
    Achieve 25% modal share: Strengthen European and trans-Eurasian corridors in freight transport

  • 10.10 - 10.50Supply chains of the future (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    MASTERCLASS
    Sustainable procurement: why it is needed more than ever

  • 10.50 - 11.35

    Coffee break and networking in the exhibition

  • 11.35 - 12.00

    TECH INSIGHTS
    Start-up pitches

  • 12.00 - 12.40Digital railroad (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    MASTERCLASS
    Why rail manufacturers/suppliers need to transform themselves into software-driven companies

  • 12.40 - 13.00Managing growth (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    KEYNOTE | Q&A
    The future of rail infrastructure: expansion, modernization and financing

  • 13.00 - 14.10


    Lunch and visit to the exhibition

  • 14.10 - 14.50Managing growth (🇩🇪/🇬🇧)

    PANEL DISCUSSION
    On the way to the Europe Act: Connecting 230 major cities to the HSR every hour - what is needed?

  • 14.50 - 14.55


    Take-aways and farewell

Innovation Stage

Wednesday - September 03, 2025

  • 13.50 - 14.40Digital railroad (🇩🇪)

    PANEL DISCUSSION
    IT platforms, microcomputing and clouds: what does the rail industry need for better operations?

  • 14.50 - 15.50Mixed topics (🇩🇪)

    COMPANY INSIGHTS
    Expert speeches

  • 15.40 - 16.15

    Coffee break and networking in the exhibition

  • 16.15 - 17.00Digital railroad (🇩🇪)

    PANEL DISCUSSION
    Automatic Train Operation (ATO): on the way to GoA Level 4

Thursday - September 04, 2025

  • 11.35 - 12.15Manage growth (🇩🇪)

    PANEL DISCUSSION
    Expanding infrastructure: Implementing new and expansion projects consistently and quickly - how can it be done?

  • 12.15 - 13.00Sustainability and new technologies (🇩🇪)

    PANEL DISCUSSION
    Electricity - battery - hydrogen - hybrid: energy options for alternative forms of propulsion in rail transportation

  • 13.00 - 14.10

    Lunch and visit to the exhibition

Workshops

Wednesday - September 03, 2025

  • 16.15 - 18.00The digital railroad - Room 15 (parallel session) (🇩🇪)

    DB Procurement Round Table: Sustainable, digital and innovative procurement

  • 16.15 - 18.00Managing growth - Room 6 and 7 (parallel session) (🇩🇪)

    Executive Workshop 1:
    Efficient maintenance through new technologies in the plant: AI, 3D printing, augmented reality and robotics

  • 16.15 - 18.00Leadership and professionals - Room 9 (parallel session) (🇩🇪)

    Executive Workshop 2
    Leadership skills in the rail industry in the digital age

  • 16.15 - 18.00Sustainability and new technologies - Room 10 (parallel session) (🇩🇪)

    Executive Workshop 3
    CO2 reduction in rail transport: strategies and best practices

  • 16.15 - 18.00The digital railroad - Room 11 (parallel session) (🇬🇧)

    Executive Workshop 4
    Artificial intelligence in rail operations: applications and potentials