The present and future of trains will be the focus of the technical sessions
From October 2nd to 5th, Fira de Barcelona is organizing the first edition of Bcn Rail, the only railway industry trade fair held in Spain, which brings together leading companies in the sector, showcases the latest developments in rolling stock, and gathers the most important European experts around the present and future of railways as a means of transport and an element of economic development.
The first edition of the International Railway Industry Exhibition, which will be held every two years, will take place in Hall 4 of the Gran Via fairgrounds and will occupy 20.000 m2 of gross exhibition space.
Around one hundred companies will be present, including the most representative ones from the central and regional public sectors. The Ministry of Public Works participates in BcnRail through RENFE, the Railway Infrastructure Administrator (ADIF), and Narrow Gauge Railways (FEVE), while the Government of Catalonia participates through Infrastructure Management, SA (GISA) and the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat (Catalan Railways).
The leading manufacturers in the sector will also be at BcnRail to showcase their latest rolling stock in a specially designed 1.200 m² space, where tracks and sleepers will be set up. Alstom will exhibit a Madrid Light Rail unit and a Barcelona Metro unit; and CAF will display its CIVIA train and a Seville Light Rail unit.
A benchmark event in southern Europe
The trade fair, created by Fira de Barcelona and promoted by Railgrup, a railway "cluster" that brings together around one hundred members including public administrations and companies from all specialties of the sector, aims to respond to the needs of the industry and thus become the benchmark event for southern Europe and northern Africa.
BcnRail aims to be, primarily, a highly useful event for all railway managers, as it will showcase the latest technological advances and reflect on the future of the railway industry.
Forum for debate and reflection
In addition to being a trade fair, BcnRail will be a highly practical forum for debate and reflection on the railway. To this end, the organizers have appointed Andrés López Pita, professor at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, as coordinator of the technical sessions to be held on October 2nd and 3rd.
BcnRail will bring together senior officials from public administration and specialized operating companies to discuss topics such as high-speed rail, which, for medium distances, competes in speed and comfort with airplanes; magnetic levitation as a possible future alternative; exclusive lines for freight transport in Europe; low-cost rail; and comprehensive automation.
Among other experts, BcnRail will feature presentations by the Director General of the International Union of Railways (UIC), Luc Aliadiere; the Director General for Energy and Transport of the European Commission, Matthias Ruete; the Secretary General of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), Hans Rat; the Director General of Research and Engineering of the SNCF, Jacques Couvert; and the Director of Transport Structures of Alto Adige, Helmut Moroder.
A booming industry
The railway industry, both nationally and internationally, is booming thanks to the application of the great technological advances achieved in recent years by the sector, which have radically transformed this means of transport.
Experts believe that two factors have contributed to the current prominence of rail. On the one hand, the eastward expansion of the European Union has increased freight transport distances, and on the other, Spanish industry has developed the technology necessary to allow trains to change tracks without stopping or shunting, thus breaking Spain's long-standing isolation from the rest of Europe.
All of this has led public administrations to invest heavily in rail. Thus, the Strategic Infrastructure and Transport Plan (PEIT), drawn up by the Spanish government, foresees a total investment of €115.860 billion until 2020, of which 48 percent will be allocated to the railway program. During this period, Spain will develop its high-speed rail network and improve its commuter rail network.
In our cities, the metro and the new tram are gaining renewed prominence with the construction of new lines that facilitate mobility. This is the case in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, and Valencia, among other cities.
And at the European level, the TEN-T program underscores the importance of rail for freight traffic between the 27 Member States of the European Union by 2020 with the creation of 30 exclusive lines for which 252.000 billion euros will be invested.
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