InnoTrans 2026 brings 113 vehicles from 17 countries to Berlin
September 9, 2026
High-speed trains travelling at over 300 km/h, hydrogen- and battery-powered vehicles, autonomous concepts and new solutions for night trains will take centre stage in the outdoor area at InnoTrans 2026. At the September event, 130 exhibitors will showcase a total of 113 vehicles, once again transforming the Berlin trade fair into a huge open-air railway showroom.
The outdoor and track areas of InnoTrans 2026, which will take place from 22 to 25 September in Berlin, will bring together vehicles from 17 countries, ranging from high-speed trains and locomotives to multiple units with alternative propulsion systems and experimental concepts for the transport of the future.
In total, 130 exhibitors will be present in this part of the exhibition, 30 of whom are first-time participants. The 113 vehicles will illustrate some of the major directions in which the industry is developing: alternative propulsion systems, automation, high speed and the return of night trains.
“For many trade visitors, the outdoor and track areas are one of the highlights of InnoTrans. Nowhere else can the diversity of the international rail industry be experienced so directly,” said Kerstin Schulz, Director of InnoTrans.
Trains brought from China and South Korea
Organising the exhibition also involves a large-scale logistical operation.
Vehicles from China and South Korea were first transported to Europe by sea. Some of them then continued their journey to Berlin via inland waterways, whilst other exhibits are arriving at the fair by rail or road.
The Slovak railcar manufacturer TATRAVAGÓNKA will have the largest presence in the vehicle area, with eight exhibits.
Next comes the Swiss manufacturer Stadler Rail, which will bring seven vehicles, including a hydrogen-powered narrow-gauge train and a battery-powered regional train.
Hydrogen and batteries take centre stage
Alternative propulsion systems will feature prominently at this year’s event.
Alongside Stadler, manufacturers such as Siemens Mobility and the Spanish company CAF will showcase vehicles utilising alternatives to conventional diesel traction.
The Chinese manufacturer CRRC will present a hybrid vehicle with hydrogen fuel cells, whilst Alstom will exhibit, amongst other things, two Traxx locomotives equipped with new on-board signalling technologies.
This trend reflects the industry’s efforts to find solutions for non-electrified lines, where trains powered by batteries, hydrogen or other hybrid systems are being developed as alternatives to conventional traction.
Over 300 km/h with trains from Italy and South Korea
The high-speed section will bring two trains to Berlin capable of exceeding the 300 km/h threshold.
One of these is the ETR1000 Frecciarossa, manufactured by Hitachi Rail for the Italian market and already in service on high-speed routes.
South Korea will be represented by the EMU-320 from Hyundai Rotem, the latest generation of South Korean high-speed trains.
The presence of Asian vehicles in Berlin also highlights the increasingly international scope of InnoTrans, which attracts both major European manufacturers and companies from Asia.
From high-speed trains to the autonomous ‘rail taxi’
The automation of public transport is another key theme of the 2026 edition.
Among the exhibits will be Railevo, billed as the world’s first autonomous ‘rail taxi’.
The Italian group Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane will also be presenting a driverless vehicle, whilst the Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences in Germany will be showcasing the Monocab project, an autonomous rail vehicle designed specifically for rural areas.
The Belgian company Otiv will go one step further with a demonstration of remote control of a train in the Netherlands.
Night trains are making a strong comeback
InnoTrans is also highlighting another increasingly visible trend in the European industry: the return of night trains.
Several companies will be presenting concepts in Berlin that aim to solve one of the major challenges facing this sector: how to offer greater privacy and comfort without reducing the number of seats so much that the service becomes too expensive.
Nox Mobility will present a prototype based exclusively on private compartments for one or two people.
At Luna Rail Lab, Luna Rail will showcase a concept featuring living and sleeping areas arranged on two levels, alongside private cabins.
A third project, ALISA, developed by Tricon AG in collaboration with several partners, including the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), proposes a new sleeper railcar concept, with a focus on low weight, flexible layout and a differentiated offering. Full-scale models of the interiors will be on display in Berlin.
“The fact that several new night train concepts are being presented at InnoTrans shows just how dynamically this segment is developing,” says Kerstin Schulz.
According to the trade fair’s director, night trains bring together some of the key themes of today’s industry: sustainable long-distance mobility, new passenger requirements and striking a balance between comfort and costs.
This year’s edition will thus once again transform the outdoor area of InnoTrans into a large-scale showcase of the global rail industry, ranging from freight railcars and locomotives to hydrogen-powered trains, autonomous vehicles and trains capable of travelling at over 300 km/h.
