Important issues at industry’s most important meeting-place
What major infrastructure investments lie ahead in the Nordic region in the next few years, and what kind of transport system is needed to meet future challenges? Will high-speed trains be established here too, and just how important is the environmental aspect to the railway industry? These were just some of the hot topics in focus during Elmia Nordic Rail and Elmia Future Transport which finished yesterday.
In just a few years, Elmia Nordic Rail and Elmia Future Transport have been established as the most important meeting-place for a prospering industry. Infrastructure issues in general and railway issues in particular are more in focus than ever.
“An efficient infrastructure is key to economic development. That’s also the fair’s very point of departure, while at the same time the future will bring real challenges,” says Project Manager Jörgen Nyström.
The important and highly interesting issues the industry is currently facing were reflected in the conference programme. Some 150 seminars dealt with the most important current developments. The common theme was high-speed trains, and they were also the subject of the far-reaching main conference, which involved guest experts from the Nordic region and the rest of Europe. One new feature for this year’s event was the English-language conference entitled The Sustainable Railway.
Another central focus during Elmia Nordic Rail and Elmia Future Transport is on creating opportunities for future business.
“There’s a strong element of new technology and exciting solutions presented during the fairs, which we see as firm proof of their importance. Elmia Future Transport, which was held for the second time, also met with a tremendous response. There’s absolutely no doubt that the development of intermodal transport is very high up on the agenda,” says Nyström.
The Future Transport Award was also presented for the first time during Elmia Nordic Rail and Elmia Future Transport. The prize was awarded in two different categories to rail operator Öresundståg and Port of Göteborg.
No. of visitors: 4,282 (2007: 4,878) & No. of exhibitors: 257 (2007: 236)