The Fifth International Fair
of Railway Equipment and Technologies EXPO 1520

Fifth Jubilee International Fair of Railway Equipment and Technologies EXPO 1520 Winds Up

The Fifth Jubilee International Fair of Railways Equipment and Technologies EXPO 1520, which lasted from 2 to 5 September this year on the Experimental Ring in Shcherbinka, is over.

The event had 26,180 visitors.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Russian Railways President Oleg Belozerov pointed out: "On display here are more than 100 specimens. The trade fair is also unusual because of its dynamic exposition. New models are brought here every time. And this is not only about demonstrating the latest achievements, but about negotiating contracts as well."

In the opinion of the trade fair's participants, Russian railway equipment and technology achievements are at or even above the world level. EXPO 1520 was even entered in the Guinness Book of World Records, due to the number of full-size exhibits. Despite the challenging political situation, the number of foreign participants in the trade fair increased: some countries, such as Switzerland, France, the Czech Republic and China, opened their national pavilions here for the first time. Overall, 705 companies from 29 countries took part in the event.

The international conference Rolling Stock Manufacturing: Prospects, Technologies, Priorities was held as part of EXPO 1520; over 2,060 heads of mechanical engineering enterprises, specialised public administration and international bodies, as well as scientists and transport experts, participated in its work.

The central event of the first day of the conference was the plenary session "Rolling Stock Manufacturing 1520: Outlines of Sustainable Growth", at which visions and ways of rolling-stock manufacture growth in the "1520 space" were discussed. Senior RZD Vice-President Vadim Morozov noted that, to stimulate production of innovative rolling stock, the government had decreed subsidising of interest rates on loans and leases for such wagons. Mr Morozov also pointed to the unique nature of the international railway fair "EXPO 1520": "The trade fair EXPO 1520 is the only event where visitors may acquaint themselves with contemporary rolling stock not only as static exhibits but also see them running and become personally convinced of the diversity of the advanced technologies used both in Russia and abroad."

Speaking at the extended session of the Coordination Council task force, Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, General Director FSUE Ust-Katavsky S.N. Kirov Wagon-Building Works Alexander Gnatyuk pointed out: "The national potential is shaped by its biggest cities and the cities are in need of a balanced transport solution for their development."
During the scientific and historical conference devoted to the 170th anniversary of transport engineering, the participants discussed the current situation and the prospects for freight carriage manufacturing.

Siemens graphically presented the possibilities of 3D printing at the seminar "The Prospects for 3D Printing Use in Railway Engineering". Sergey Ehmann, Chief Engineer, Department for Service Support of Clients, Siemens AG, dwelled on methods for creating spare parts for railway transport using a 3D printer, noting: "3D printing is the technology that marks the onset of the future."

The international forum "Transport Science: Innovative Solutions for Business" focused on creating full-blown high-speed railway communications in Russia and Europe. The participants discussed the social and economic prerequisites for creating HSRC in Russia and listened to reports delivered by foreign speakers. In his welcome address to the Forum's participants, Russian Railways Senior Vice-President for Innovative Development Valentin Gapanovich laid special emphasis on the training of highly skilled personnel: "The topic of HR training is rather acute in the Russian Federation and it should be discussed at all public authority levels." Overall, 15 business fora were conducted as part of the Fair's programme.

A ceremony of commemorative cancellation of postage stamps also took place at EXPO 1520. Participating in the ceremony were Russian Railways Senior Vice-President Vadim Morozov, Business Dialogue CEO Anatoly Kitsura and Deputy General Director of Rossvyaz Vladimir Shelikhov. Postage stamps of the series "Russian Uniform Background: Uniforms of Railway Transport Workers" were shown.

Visitors to and participants in the Fair could also see in motion both the historical and most up-to-date rolling stock used by RZD on its railway network. A study trip in Stadler double-decker passenger wagons was arranged for the visitors to the fair. The Moscow Metro stand displaying new passenger services and recent novelties called on to enhance Metro travel comfort also aroused keen interest.

As part of the event, 17 agreements of strategic importance for the transport industry were signed. 247 exhibitors participated in the jubilee fair. EXPO 1520 was covered by about 350 media representatives.