IRSA `21 a great success despite Corona

Under extremely cautious conditions (2G+) the Research Center Railways of RWTH Aachen executed the 3rd International Railway Symposium Aachen (IRSA) this Monday and Tuesday. Despite the rapidly increasing number of Corona infections in Germany, about 80 people participated on site in RWTH‘s beautiful SuperC building. Another 80 people joined us via video.

After beiing welcomed by rector Ulrich Rüdiger and some greetings from Northrhine-Westphalias undersecretary of state Hendrik Schulte we were honered to receive 4 keynotes. Carlo Borghini, head of Europe‘s Rail, presented the EU’s next railway research programme. Mesela Nhlapo, head of the African Rail Industry Association advertised for investments in rail in her homecountry South Africa. Volker Kefer, President of the Associaton of German Engineers and former long time board member of German Railways gave advise on how to achieve the goals of the German government for a shift to rail. Last but not least, Ansgar Brockmeyer, Vice-President and Head of Sales at our this years main sponsor Stadler, gave an insight about modern energy provision for electric drives.

44 technical and scientific presentations were held then. The main issue was digitalization, that is the driver for nearly every subject of the railway system for the next years. We hope that in two years time we will be able to return to a full on site event in Nov. 2023. Thanks to everybody who participated and supported the event.