Rail technology from Berlin – on the right track
Berlin is known across the world as a traditional center for rail technology. Names like Borsig, AEG and Siemens have left their mark on the history of the railroad and the region alike.
Rail technology is an industrial pillar of the region's economy with a high degree of integration. The entire value chain is represented here by companies that range from mid-sized suppliers to major corporations.
Facts and figures
- Over 100 rail technology companies with over 20,000 employees;
- Global market leader Alstom and other global players in rail technology are located in Berlin (Knorr-Bremse, Siemens Mobility, Stadler Deutschland, Talgo Deutschland, Thales)
- Headquarters of Deutsche Bahn AG: The company is the largest private sector employer in Berlin with more than 25,000 employees;
- The public transport network Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) is one of the largest local transport systems in the world: Some 2.9 million passengers every day, more than 137 million kilometers traveled annually. With almost 16,000 employees, the BVG is one of the largest employers in Berlin;
- The leading rail industry event, "InnoTrans", takes place every two years in Berlin; next time will be from 24-27 September 2024;
- Top-level expertise in diverse related technologies, such as telematics, automotive engineering, materials engineering and information technology;
- The region is home to numerous centers of expertise, with link stakeholders from science & business;
- Research institutes, such as the TU, the HTW, the DLR, and the Fraunhofer institutes with recognized expertise in railway technology, which are organized in the Center for Digital Networking (LZDV);
- Outstanding pool of highly qualified technical specialists and management talent due to various programs in the rail technology field at Berlin's universities and universities of applied sciences;
- The rail technology industry focuses on rail vehicle technology, control and safety technology, passenger information systems, engineering for the digitalisation of rail operations, maintenance of rail infrastructure and rail vehicles and a diverse supply industry for rail technology components.
- Development of the railway technology Campus Havelland, based on the plot lines of logistics, commerce, research & practice, as well as science & education, at the location of the traditional location of the former Wustermark switch yard.
- Berlin’s Hauptbahnhof is the largest train station serving multiple lines in Europe.
Networks, initiatives and associations
Pro-Rail Alliance
(Allianz pro Schiene e. V.)
The Pro-Rail Alliance is an alliance in Germany for the promotion of safe and environmentally friendly rail transport. The main objective is to increase its market share. 20 non-profit organizations have joined as members of this alliance out of idealistic reasons to promote rail transport: environmental groups, unions, trade associations and consumer organizations. More than 120 companies from the entire railway sector provide the Pro-Rail Alliance with financial support. This group includes train operating companies and infrastructure operators, manufacturers of railway technology, construction companies, banks, insurance companies and others, as well as global market leaders, not to mention small and medium-sized companies.
Bahnverband e. V.
The objective of the Bahnverband e. V. is the bundling and coordination of the research activities of its partners. Networking in the field of railroad technology generates synergies and sustainably strengthens railroad technology research. Practical implementation shows how important the interaction between companies, research institutions and associations is.
Deutsche Verkehrswissenschaftliche Gesellschaft e.V. (DVWG)
The Deutsche Verkehrswissenschaftliche Gesellschaft is an association of experts from all areas of transportation who work in science, business and administration or cooperate with it. It is a neutral platform for the transfer of knowledge and experience between the theory and practice of transportation development. It is oriented towards the tasks of sustainable transport development.
ERCI - European Railway Clusters Initiative ASBL
As a European lobby for around 2,000 small and medium-sized companies, the ERCI - European Railway Clusters Initiative aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the European railway industry in the long term through innovation and the opening of new business opportunities. The ERCI promotes cooperation between industry and research, initiates innovation projects and organises B2B meetings and specialist workshops. 17 railway technology related clusters representing 16 European countries are united under the ERCI.
European Rail Research Network of Excellence (EURNEX e. V.)
The European Rail Research Network of Excellence (EURNEX e. V.) particularly integrates the fragmented rail research in Europe with the goal of efficiency increase.
EURNEX connects 34 excellent research institutes throughout the transport sector from 15 EU countries and the United Kingdom, Serbia, Russia, Morocco and China, including TU Berlin and Berlin Partner for Business and Technology. EURNEX bundles research achievements from one source at highest quality.
it’s.BB e.V.
it's.BB e.V. is the IT security network in the Berlin-Brandenburg capital region and comprises 20 members – mostly small and medium-sized enterprises and scientific institutions.
Kompetenznetz Rail Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH (KNRBB)
Kompetenznetz Rail Berlin Brandenburg GmbH is an international cooperation network in the field of rail transport technology with over 70 network partners from 10 European countries, including 26 partners from Berlin and Brandenburg, for the initiation, promotion and realization of cooperation and projects.
LNBB | LogistikNetz Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.
Logistiknetz Berlin-Brandenburg is an independent platform for all players in the field of logistics and mobility. It sees itself as a neutral moderator between business, science and politics and, together with its members, stands for a sustainable value chain.
Mobility goes Additive e. V.
Mobility goes Additive (MGA) is the leading international network for industrial additive manufacturing. With a user-centric focus, MGA unites over 140 players from all market sectors to drive additive manufacturing. The network consists of users, R&D institutes, consultants, machine and material manufacturers, service providers and software providers and cooperates with other (inter)national networks.
Netzwerk Europäischer Eisenbahnen e. V.
(Association of the Network of European Railways)
Railway companies independent of the former state monopoly Deutsche Bahn generate more than 50 percent of rail freight traffic in Germany. The Netzwerk Europäischer Eisenbahnen e. V. (NEE) is an association made up of 70 members, which include rail transport companies and companies from their environment. Fair competition on the railways is the main concern. At the same time, the NEE wants to contribute to achieving the German and European climate protection goals.
Railway Areas Innovation Lab – Berlin Brandenburg (RAIL-BB e. V.)
In February 2021, representatives from companies, research and science came together and founded the Netzwerk RAIL-BB.
Topics of the new network include the tension between the metropolitan region and rural areas, the challenges of supplying inner cities from peripheral freight transport centers, digitization and mobility in rural areas.
BahnTechnologie Campus Havelland (BTC)
The BahnTechnologie Campus (BTC) in the Havelland district, located west of Berlin, is the ideal test field area for application and research for these versatile and complex topics due to the existing infrastructure of the privately operated Wustermark marshalling yard.
Studiengesellschaft für den Kombinierten Verkehr e. V. – SGKV
The SGKV (a research association for combined transport) is a non-profit members association for the promotion of combined transport (CT) and the rational transport. With members from academia and industry, it forms a communication and knowledge platform for everyone who uses, explores and develops CT.
The German Railway Industry Association
(Verband der Bahnindustrie in Deutschland e. V. - VBD)
The German Railway Industry Association brings the manufacturers of all kinds of products for rail operations under one roof. Today, it serves as the representative of more than 200 member companies with over 50,000 employees.
German Engineering Federation
(Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau e. V. - VDMA)
With roughly 3,300 members, the VDMA is one of the key industry associations and service providers in Europe and forms the largest network of capital goods producers in Europe. Its overall mission is built around four core principles: "Networked thinking, networked actions, Major Operators", "Creating the corporate tomorrow", "Technology for you and me", and "Europe and the World". The organization providing optimal support to VDMA members includes associations for specific engineering disciplines, regional associations, central departments dealing with engineering and machine building topics as well as subsidiary service companies.
The German Electrical and Electronics Industry Association
(Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie e. V. - ZVEI)
The ZVEI represents the interests of the German electrical and electronics industry with regard to economic, technology and environmental policy at the national, European and international levels. It provides targeted information about the economic, technical and legal conditions under which the electrical and electronics industries operate in Germany.
