Our 10th Young Rail Trip took us to Berlin

How much of the railway do you get to see through your own role? Our mission to inspire young professionals includes opportunities to explore further and learn directly from people working on railways in other countries. Young Rail Trips makes that possible through international study visits, bringing members together to experience parts of the industry they might otherwise never encounter. Our tenth international trip took us to Berlin this September, with six days built around InnoTrans and visits beyond the exhibition.

InnoTrans brought together 3,190 exhibitors from 59 countries across all 42 exhibition halls and the outdoor display areas, with 113 railway vehicles on show. Members had several days to explore subjects relevant to their work and investigate others they knew much less about. They could examine equipment up close and speak with specialists about how it is used on different networks. The scale meant there was room to follow their own interests, make unexpected discoveries and compare approaches from across the international railway.

The InnoTrans team arranged an exclusive guided tour for YRP, introducing our group to the German Aerospace Centre, Alstom, DR SCHNELL, Moxa Europe and Siemens Mobility. Members could hear about their work directly from the people involved and ask questions beyond their own specialisms. The range of organisations offered a broader understanding of the expertise the railway draws on, including work less visible in their everyday roles. Those introductions also gave members an opportunity to explore how their existing knowledge connects with other parts of the industry and the career paths available within it.

Our visits to an ICE maintenance facility and Alstom’s Hennigsdorf site took members into working railway environments. The hosts could explain their work where it happens, with time for questions during the visits. Members could compare what they saw with their own experience and ask about approaches unfamiliar to them. The visits complemented the exhibition by giving our group a closer look at the workplaces behind Germany’s railway.

Our group also joined InnoTrans’ first Young Generation Stammtisch, meeting other young professionals from across the international industry. Members brought their own experience to each visit, asking questions that helped others in the group see the work from a different perspective. Conversations could continue over dinner or on the journey back, with time to compare notes and get to know each other beyond a brief introduction. Spending several days together helped members build connections across employers and disciplines while experiencing Berlin’s transport network for themselves.

Thank you to CIRO, the Chartered Institution of Railway Operators, for sponsoring Young Rail Trips throughout this year’s programme. Their support helps subsidise places, making international railway learning more affordable for our members. Thank you also to the InnoTrans team for arranging the guided tour and welcoming our group, to our visit hosts for sharing their expertise and to the YRP volunteers who organised the week: Simone Dellisanti, Micheal Herris, Rebecca Bates, Julianna Moats, Chimney Vashi, and Hannah Crookall.