InnoTrans Brings Developers and Rail Industry Together for AI Challenge

InnoTrans is adding a new format to its programme, and it’s all about AI. The 2026 edition will bring developers and rail companies together to solve real industry problems.

InnoTrans 2026 is expanding its innovation program with a new highlight: With the international hackathon “AI on Track”, the world’s leading trade fair for transport technology will bring together developers, startups, and industrial companies for the first time in a compact format from September 23 to 25, 2026, to solve concrete challenges in the mobility industry using digital tools and artificial intelligence.

As main sponsors, Alstom, Wabtec, and Siemens Mobility are supporting the new format and contributing their own practical challenges. Around 60 to 80 hackers from around the world are expected to work on innovative solutions during the trade fair at the Großer Stern location on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds.

Industry Pushes AI-driven Solutions

The AI on Track hackathon will take place for the first time as part of InnoTrans 2026. "Rail generates data at scale, and value emerges when this data drives better decisions and more reliable train operations," said Henri Badaro, Vice President Data & AI at Alstom. The initiative is designed to combine industry expertise with fresh perspectives to accelerate practical, data-driven solutions.

From Siemens Mobility’s perspective, AI will play a key role in areas such as disruption management, train planning, and revenue optimisation, as operators face growing pressure to increase capacity and efficiency. Wabtec, meanwhile, is focusing on the development of ethical and efficient AI solutions for real-world passenger transport challenges.

A New Format at the Heart of InnoTrans

"The hackathon underscores InnoTrans’ role as a key international platform for future mobility trends," said Kerstin Schulz, Director of InnoTrans. The initiative reflects the growing importance of artificial intelligence across the rail sector and adds a more interactive format to the event’s programme.

Participants will work in a dedicated environment at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds, with extended access allowing teams to continue development into the evening. The hackathon begins one day after the official opening of InnoTrans and concludes with an awards ceremony on the final day. A jury of industry experts will award prize money of up to €5,000, with organisers expecting strong international participation.

Source: InnoTrans