Your gateway to the rail market in France
Posted: 20 February 2013 | | No comments yet
Plans are now well underway for SIFER 2013, which takes place at the Lille Grand Palais exhibition centre in France from 26 to 28 March. This year’s show will be the eighth in a highly successful series of events that have established SIFER as the essential showcase in France for companies serving the entire rail market – and as a lively meeting place for policy-makers, rail operators and manufacturers.
The exhibition boasts an impressive list of supporting organisations including France’s Ministry for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, national rail infrastructure agency RFF, the European Railway Agency and the Association des Régions de France (ARF).
For the first time SIFER is also being supported by the French Railway Industries Association (FIF), which will host a major conference during the exhibition discussing the future of the country’s rail industry – and especially its response to changes in the global manufacturing sector. Show partners additionally include the influential Railenium technological research institute project co-ordinated by i-Trans, the technology hub that brings together rail industry leaders and research and training institutions serving the transport sector, as well as prominent rail industry suppliers’ associations from across France, plus Agoria, the Belgian federation for technology industries.
A major rail market
France remains one of Europe’s major rail markets, with continuing investment in its highspeed network and a growing list of cities and towns with urban rail systems. The national network route totals some 29,000km, of which nearly 1,900km are high-speed lines. In all, it handled 521.6 million train-km in 2011.
New high-speed lines are under con – struction, including LGV Bretagne/Pays de la Loire (Le Mans-Rennes), LGV Est Européen (Phase 2, completing the high-speed link between Paris and principal cities in eastern France, including Strasbourg) and LGV Sud Europe Atlantique (Tours-Bordeaux). Other major additions to the network are at various stages of planning, including the international Lyon-Turin Transalpine Rail Link.
Twenty-nine cities and towns in France now either have operational metro or light-rail systems or are planning to introduce them. In many communities the success of initial lines is behind plans for additional routes. In Paris extensions to the Métro are planned and there is to be a substantial expansion of the light-rail network. Tram-train projects are being imple – mented in some instances, such as in Bordeaux and Mulhouse.
Change is also taking place in the increas – ingly competitive train operations market, especially in the freight sector, where Fret SNCF faces challenges for traffic from other companies. Domestic passenger services have been less affected by competition so far and indeed have benefited from greater involvement by the country’s regional authorities in defining service quality in the areas they cover, generating investment especially in rolling stock.
At a political level, reforms are now being discussed that would see national network authority RFF merged with SNCF Infra, which undertakes infrastructure maintenance, to create a unified state-owned rail infrastructure company employing around 50,000 people. Legislation to implement these changes is expected in late-2013.
Plans are now well underway for SIFER 2013, which takes place at the Lille Grand Palais exhibition centre in France from 26 to 28 March. This year’s show will be the eighth in a highly successful series of events that have established SIFER as the essential showcase in France for companies serving the entire rail market – and as a lively meeting place for policy-makers, rail operators and manufacturers. The exhibition boasts an impressive list of supporting organisations including France’s Ministry for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, national rail infrastructure agency RFF, the European Railway Agency and the Association des Régions de France (ARF). For the first time SIFER is also being supported by the French Railway Industries Association (FIF), which will host a major conference during the exhibition discussing the future of the country’s rail industry – and especially its response to changes in the global manufacturing sector. Show partners additionally include the influential Railenium technological research institute project co-ordinated by i-Trans, the technology hub that brings together rail industry leaders and research and training institutions serving the transport sector, as well as prominent rail industry suppliers’ associations from across France, plus Agoria, the Belgian federation for technology industries. A major rail market France remains one of Europe’s major rail markets, with continuing investment in its highspeed network and a growing list of cities and towns with urban rail systems. The national network route totals some 29,000km, of which nearly 1,900km are high-speed lines. In all, it handled 521.6 million train-km in 2011. New high-speed lines are under con - struction, including LGV Bretagne/Pays de la Loire (Le Mans-Rennes), LGV Est Européen (Phase 2, completing the high-speed link between Paris and principal cities in eastern France, including Strasbourg) and LGV Sud Europe Atlantique (Tours-Bordeaux). Other major additions to the network are at various stages of planning, including the international Lyon-Turin Transalpine Rail Link. Twenty-nine cities and towns in France now either have operational metro or light-rail systems or are planning to introduce them. In many communities the success of initial lines is behind plans for additional routes. In Paris extensions to the Métro are planned and there is to be a substantial expansion of the light-rail network. Tram-train projects are being imple - mented in some instances, such as in Bordeaux and Mulhouse. Change is also taking place in the increas - ingly competitive train operations market, especially in the freight sector, where Fret SNCF faces challenges for traffic from other companies. Domestic passenger services have been less affected by competition so far and indeed have benefited from greater involvement by the country’s regional authorities in defining service quality in the areas they cover, generating investment especially in rolling stock. At a political level, reforms are now being discussed that would see national network authority RFF merged with SNCF Infra, which undertakes infrastructure maintenance, to create a unified state-owned rail infrastructure company employing around 50,000 people. Legislation to implement these changes is expected in late-2013.
Plans are now well underway for SIFER 2013, which takes place at the Lille Grand Palais exhibition centre in France from 26 to 28 March. This year’s show will be the eighth in a highly successful series of events that have established SIFER as the essential showcase in France for companies serving the entire rail market – and as a lively meeting place for policy-makers, rail operators and manufacturers.
The exhibition boasts an impressive list of supporting organisations including France’s Ministry for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, national rail infrastructure agency RFF, the European Railway Agency and the Association des Régions de France (ARF).
For the first time SIFER is also being supported by the French Railway Industries Association (FIF), which will host a major conference during the exhibition discussing the future of the country’s rail industry – and especially its response to changes in the global manufacturing sector. Show partners additionally include the influential Railenium technological research institute project co-ordinated by i-Trans, the technology hub that brings together rail industry leaders and research and training institutions serving the transport sector, as well as prominent rail industry suppliers’ associations from across France, plus Agoria, the Belgian federation for technology industries.
A major rail market
France remains one of Europe’s major rail markets, with continuing investment in its highspeed network and a growing list of cities and towns with urban rail systems. The national network route totals some 29,000km, of which nearly 1,900km are high-speed lines. In all, it handled 521.6 million train-km in 2011.
New high-speed lines are under con – struction, including LGV Bretagne/Pays de la Loire (Le Mans-Rennes), LGV Est Européen (Phase 2, completing the high-speed link between Paris and principal cities in eastern France, including Strasbourg) and LGV Sud Europe Atlantique (Tours-Bordeaux). Other major additions to the network are at various stages of planning, including the international Lyon-Turin Transalpine Rail Link.
Twenty-nine cities and towns in France now either have operational metro or light-rail systems or are planning to introduce them. In many communities the success of initial lines is behind plans for additional routes. In Paris extensions to the Métro are planned and there is to be a substantial expansion of the light-rail network. Tram-train projects are being imple – mented in some instances, such as in Bordeaux and Mulhouse.
Change is also taking place in the increas – ingly competitive train operations market, especially in the freight sector, where Fret SNCF faces challenges for traffic from other companies. Domestic passenger services have been less affected by competition so far and indeed have benefited from greater involvement by the country’s regional authorities in defining service quality in the areas they cover, generating investment especially in rolling stock.
At a political level, reforms are now being discussed that would see national network authority RFF merged with SNCF Infra, which undertakes infrastructure maintenance, to create a unified state-owned rail infrastructure company employing around 50,000 people. Legislation to implement these changes is expected in late-2013.
Innovation in the industry
SIFER exhibitor numbers are poised to grow again this year. More than 450 organisations – from SMEs to major manufacturers, regional rail industry clusters and international companies – are expected to take part in the show, with innovation a key feature of the products on display. Covering all fields of rail industry technology, products and services, SIFER has an especially strong focus on four main market sectors: rail infrastructure; rolling stock; rail vehicle interiors; and passenger transport technology.
A large area of the exhibition will be occupied by stands coordinated by the Association des Industries Ferroviaires (AIF), which represents some 130 railway supply companies in the Nord-Pas de Calais region. Companies based there employ some 10,000 people and account for 40% of national railway manufacturing. This region and its neighbour Picardie form the hub of France’s rail supply industry, promoting their joint capabilities as Northern France Rail.
Show partner Réseau Ferré de France will have a stand at the exhibition. Having owned and managed the French railway network since 1997, RFF provides access to 30,000km of lines and leads the country’s investments in new lines.
As with previous shows in the series, the infrastructure section of SIFER includes an On Track Display of equipment set up on sections of track laid in the exhibition hall. This is an established and successful feature for exhibitors of infrastructure products at SIFER. Sections of track laid in the exhibition hall enable suppliers of rail-mounted vehicles and track-related equipment to display their products in an authentic setting at the heart of the event.
In addition to the vital role of showcasing the very latest in rail products and services, SIFER 2013 will also serve as an unrivalled forum for learning about transport policy developments and industry trends in France. The FIF conference mentioned above is just one highlight in a packed programme of supporting activities.
An afternoon conference hosted by Ville, Rail & Transports magazine will focus on the regional rail sector. Entitled ‘How to reduce the cost of railway operations’, the conference will be followed by the third ‘Grands Prix of the Regions’ awards ceremony which recognises achievements in regional rail service provision in France.
Awards for technological innovation in the rail sector will be presented by the i-Trans competitiveness cluster and will feature a pres – entation of the Railenium project, creating a European research and testing centre for railway infrastructure. There will also be presentations by the Association des Industries Ferroviaires (AIF), which represents some 130 companies in Nord- Pas de Calais, and exhibitors’ seminars.
SIFER provides an informal setting for the networking that is always an essential feature of rail industry trade shows. The Networking Reception hosted by show organisers Mack Brooks France offers further opportunities for those encounters that play such an important role in cementing business relationships.
A limited number of places will be available for visits to sites of railway interest, including Eurotunnel and one of Alstom’s facilities. These places will be open only to registered SIFER visitors and will be offered via the show website closer to the opening of the event.
This latest exhibition aims to build on the success of previous shows. SIFER 2011, for the first time, occupied three halls at the Lille Grand Palais exhibition centre. It broke all previous records by attracting 400 exhibitors from 16 countries, 25% of them from outside France, and 4,400 trade visitors from 41 countries – 16% of these foreign.
For an up-to-date exhibitor list, details of the many activities going on during the show and to order your visitor badge at discounted rate of €20, visit the website.