I’m at #Innotrans all day. I’ll sporadically post in this thread.

First impression: CRRC (Chinese manufacturer) has the main advert at Messe Süd

The industrial saboteurs are here #Innotrans

And here it is! The most stupid rail vehicle currently produced. A hydrogen tram 🤬 Hyundai-Rotem #Innotrans

The Talgo electric locomotive for DB - series 105 - is here. They didn’t already build 19 of these I hope? 🤔 #Innotrans

Končar has a battery electric multiple unit here. That seems to charge only from a cable, not from an overhead wire in a terminus #Innotrans

And if you’re going “what’s wrong with a hydrogen tram?” you’re going to be dealt with totally scornfully. Put up a wire. That’s it. #Innotrans

The new FART is here #Innotrans

As is a Stadler built new U-Bahn for Berlin - for the narrow profile lines. This is built super solidly, and is more roomy than existing designs. Impressive design. #Innotrans

There’s an Alstom Coradia Max EMU. Mix of single and double deck carriages. Inside it feels cramped - feels like they’re trying to cram in too many seats. #Innotrans

There’s always one more final speech from Gilkinet #Innotrans

Warning Oslo. We’re going to be remotely controlling a tram in Oslo from Berlin. Fingers crossed the internet connection is solid. 🙂 #Innotrans

For the record: the tram is in a depot 🙂 #Innotrans

Now talking Western Balkans at #Innotrans

The DG of Macedonian Railways is here 🤯

This is the Macedonian Railways depot in Skopje #Innotrans

This is the future Tirana central station. That’s not very central. And is meant to run in 2025. #Innotrans

If you’re a panellist at any event *don’t read your speech*. It’s a panel not a speech! #Innotrans

I assume they’re not going to allow questions here though… I have a few things to ask! 😂 #Innotrans

So this is the dude. Sinisa Ivanovski, DG of Macedonian Railways. I have questions… He’s the man presiding over phantom lines and phantom trains. #Innotrans

He’s being asked about ERTMS. He’s not got any trains to put modern signalling *in* 🤬 #Innotrans

This is Macedonia’s ETCS equipped line. No train has ever run on it since it was built in 2019. #Innotrans

This is just delusion. Macedonia has 7 operational trains, TOTAL, I was told in June. 3 multiple units, 4 freight locomotives. The problem is NOT operations first and foremost, but operations and maintenance. #Innotrans

I think I’m more depressed hearing these high level people from Balkan railways than I was when I was in the region in June on #CrossBorderRail #Innotrans

Albanian rail dude claims his new line is 80% complete. This is where the airport station is due to be. NO sign of building in June this year. He’s talking 💩 #Innotrans

It’s amazing this panel. It’s so off the scale delusional. I’ve heard some rubbish at panels over the years, but this is another level. #Innotrans

Here’s my blog post about Macedonia’s phantom rail lines https://crossborderrail.trainsforeurope.eu/north-macedonias-phantom-rail-line-and-why-i-am-worried-theyre-repeating-the-error-at-the-other-end-of-the-country/ #Innotrans

And I’m sorry Enno Wiebe from Unife has clearly never travelled by train in the Balkans. ETCS is *irrelevant* if you have no trains. #Innotrans

And there was an announcement of a single daily Paris - Berlin direct train from December. Nice but 🤷‍♂️

An hourly train Paris-Frankfurt would be more useful.

#Innotrans

And I’m done at #Innotrans for today. More tomorrow, and also from an event in the evening hosted by Trainline where I’m a speaker

I’m back at #Innotrans

And stumbles into the hall about cables

Innuendo, #Innotrans style

AI can work out if you get a Brezel #Innotrans

How many different silly GadgetBahn ideas does SNCF have? Here’s another one - at the CAF stand #Innotrans