Saxony and Canada Agree on Cooperation in the Railway Industry
The German Railway Technology Association (Rail.S e. V.) and its Canadian counterpart, the Transit Rail Association for Canadian Contractors, Maintainers, Operators and Standards (TRACCS), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their international cooperation.
“The mobility transition and the further development of modern rail systems are global challenges. Through our cooperation with TRACCS, we are building a strong bridge between two innovative rail regions and opening up new international opportunities for our members,” says Prof. Dr. Arnd Stephan, Chairman of the Board of Rail.S e. V., emphasizing the significance of the new transatlantic partnership.
The aim of the agreement is to systematically expand cooperation between the rail industry in Saxony and Canada and to create new market and cooperation opportunities for the members of both organizations. Companies, research institutions, and industry stakeholders are to be more closely networked in the future to promote innovation, knowledge transfer, and international projects. Plans include joint industry events, workshops, and delegation trips (such as this year’s TRACCS Rail Day on June 17–18, 2026). These are intended to facilitate the exchange of technological and regulatory expertise and strengthen access to international markets and partnerships. A particular focus is on small and medium-sized enterprises, which play a central role in innovation within the rail sector and in implementing the mobility transition.
- Delegations, industry events, and joint sector initiatives
As part of the cooperation, Rail.S and TRACCS have already agreed on concrete next steps. These include regular delegation trips by member companies to Canada—in particular to the annual TRACCS Rail Day, Canada’s leading conference and trade fair for the rail transport industry—as well as reciprocal visits by Canadian companies to Germany. In addition, experts from both organizations are to be more closely integrated into each other’s existing professional events, committees, and working groups. Looking ahead, both partners also intend to develop new joint industry events to, among other things, provide Canada with greater support for its ambitious expansion goals in the rail sector through German expertise. The memorandum of understanding is initially valid for two years and provides the framework for concrete joint projects, which will be detailed in further agreements.
- About Rail.S e. V.
Rail.S, headquartered in Dresden, is one of the largest railway technology clusters in Germany, with over 110 members from industry and academia. The association’s mission is to strengthen the rail industry—and in particular small and medium-sized rail suppliers—as drivers of innovation and the backbone of the mobility transition. Whether through cooperation projects, market access, sales promotion, knowledge transfer, or talent recruitment, Rail.S serves as an exchange and networking platform, always connecting members with the right partners.
Rail.S is a co-organizer and organizer of the international conference series dcrps and acrps. With over 500 and 600 participants annually, respectively, they rank among the world’s largest trade events in the field of railway power supply. Both conferences take place in Leipzig on a biennial rotation. The next acrps is scheduled for March 3–5, 2027.