SIFER 2021: Back on track

Over the years, SIFER has become a benchmark meeting point for all players in the rail industry, including major contractors, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, subcontractors, operators and transport management authorities. Every two years, the event reflects the major changes at the heart of the industry, as well as on-going and future challenges.

This new edition will take place against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has considerably affected the economy on a global scale, particularly the rail industry. Thanks to the unconditional support of its partners, SIFER aims to play a key part in helping the sector get back on track to recover from the pandemic. The new hybrid format will enable attendees to take part onsite or digitally, without ever compromising on the show’s fundamentals: offering all exhibitors and visitors a platform to meet, exchange and conduct business.

Two questions to SNCF Réseau:

What are you looking forward to the most?
“SIFER is THE meeting place for the railway industry in France, bringing together all players in the sector’s ecosystem. After so long apart and without any face-to-face events, it will be a pleasure to share these three days with all key players of the industry, in a place that promotes spontaneous exchanges and new business encounters.”

What are the most important technologies or projects that will define the future of rail?
“From a macroeconomic point of view: customers at the heart of new plans, the key role of ‘digital’, autonomous installations and equipment, the ‘connected agent’ and new connectivity systems, solutions respectful of the environment, those allowing to run more trains whilst maintaining safety levels, economic performance, and the safety of people and equipment.”

Market indicators

•  France’s railway industry continues to rank third in the world. The Hauts-de-France region remains the leading rail region in France. Altogether, it employs 1/3 of the French rail workforce and generates 1/4 of the annual rail turnover.
•  Despite the global crisis, train attendance is on the rise, according to a report published by the ATR in 2020. The income generated by railway companies has increased thanks to better occupancy rates, reaching its highest since 2015 for high-speed trains. While rail freight has slightly decreased (-0.3 per cent), its profitability is improving.
•  The global growth for railway equipment (€183 billion in 2017) should speed up between 2018 and 2022, especially for new equipment (+2.4 per cent per year compared to +1.3 per cent per year in 2017).

2021: The European Year of Rail

In December 2020, the European Parliament approved a proposal to appoint 2021 the ‘European Year of Rail’ in order to promote greener and safer transports. This will be reflected in this year’s showcase, where exhibitors will unveil more sustainable products and services aimed at creating transport systems more respectful of the environment, thus contributing to the EU’s objective to be climate-neutral by 2050.

SIFER 2021 labelled ‘Safety Show’

In response to the pandemic, the RX group and Mack-Brooks Exhibitions have developed a strategy entitled ‘Safety Shows’ which includes a five-point action plan to protect the health and safety of everyone at the exhibition: collaboration & engagement, risk management, planning, communication, and safeguarding measures.

Philippe Blond, CEO of Lille Grand Palais, said: “SIFER meets for three days in the three main halls of Lille Grand Palais. We are proud to have hosted this great event for almost 15 years. The teams at Lille Grand Palais have been working on hosting this great event for months. We will deploy the necessary sanitary arrangements to successfully host the event in October 2021. In June 2021, we already tested our new protocol and the vaccine passport with great success.”

Visitor registration will be live from mid-August 2021.

For more information about SIFER, please visit the website here.