"Railways Must Become a Field for Women," Highlighted at InnoTrans Opening

The opening ceremony of InnoTrans focused on themes of education, industry attractiveness, development, and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). Its implementation promises a significant range of benefits for both operators and passengers. Company representatives at the InnoTrans opening highlighted the advantages as well as the challenges that AI will bring.

The Chairman and CEO of Deutsche Bahn AG, Dr. Richard Lutz, stated that AI is a great tool whose implementation is relatively low-cost. According to him, there are practically no limits to incorporating AI into operations, with many ideas for utilizing this technology coming from employees themselves.

However, Lutz also emphasized the importance of regulation. While AI offers numerous benefits, it also presents challenges, such as potential risks with facial recognition in public spaces, which must be systematically regulated.

Lutz further stressed the need to continuously push for the development of railways, as even the German network still has its shortcomings. The focus, according to him, should be on digitalization and constant technological advancement, areas in which railways must keep pace.

Susanne Heckel, State Secretary for Digital and Transport at the Federal Ministry, supports the idea that the best combination is a classic analog train enhanced with digital technologies to ensure punctuality. But it's not just about trains running on time; technology must also connect with passengers, providing practical and efficient information through apps and websites. Alongside technological advancements, regulations must evolve as well, and she believes the EU should focus on setting the rules for the implementation of AI.

"Railways are a fantastic system that needs to be pushed forward and modernized. Besides that, we need to highlight the advantages and successes this sector has achieved. Moving forward, we must make it attractive for young people, and students, and also turn it into a field that appeals to women," said Heckel, receiving a round of applause.

In Morocco, efforts are also being made to make rail-related fields more attractive to young people. According to Mohamed Rabie Khlie, CEO of Moroccan National Railways (ONCF), the exhibition of the high-speed rail line has significantly contributed to creating appealing job opportunities for many young people. It also proves that high-speed rail makes sense, even in a country like Morocco. Since 2019, the number of passengers has doubled, and the country is developing better thanks to this.

The railways in Morocco could also benefit from the implementation of AI, which would better connect passengers through various applications. AI could also manage timetables and create algorithms to streamline transportation.

As for data protection, Khlie stated that Morocco is on a very high level. The rules are stringent, and the country strives to maintain a consistent approach, continually improving in the area of personal data protection. Morocco attracts the most investors in Africa, and data protection is a key concern for them.

"AI is a continuing revolution. The first stage, which we are already in, involves smarter machines. AI can predict, optimize passenger transportation, save energy, and conduct consistent monitoring," said Henri Poupart-Lafarge, CEO of Alstom S.A.

According to him, the next stage of AI involves generation, from applications and various systems to the development of new smart locomotives, trains, and machinery in general.

Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility GmbH, compared AI to the development of computers and the internet in the 1990s. He believes that anyone not utilizing AI within the next ten years will fall behind and regret it later. One of the advantages, according to Peter, could be that trains will be able to detect when they need repairs, as they will identify defects before they even occur. AI could also prevent errors that happen during regular operations.