Berlin is known across the world as a traditional center for rail technology. Names like Borsig, AEG and Siemens have left their mark on the history of the railroad and the region alike.
Rail technology remains an industrial pillar of the region's economy with a high degree of integration. The entire value chain is represented here by companies that range from mid-sized suppliers to major corporations.
In May of 2006, Deutsche Bahn AG opened the new central station, the Hauptbahnhof. At the same time, it completed renovation work on other train stations and integrated them into the long-distance rail network. Today, Berlin’s Hauptbahnhof is the largest train station serving multiple lines in Europe.
- Over 115 rail technology companies with about 18,700 employees;
- Global market leaders in rail technology;
(Bombardier Transportation, Siemens Mobility);
- Headquarters of Deutsche Bahn AG: The company is the largest private sector employer in Berlin with about 18,200 employees and 500 scientists;
- The Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) operates one of the largest and most reliable public transit networks in the world, serving more than 2.5 million passengers each day and traveling 250 million kilometers yearly. With over 12,600 employees, BVG is Berlin's fifth largest employer;
- The leading rail industry event, "InnoTrans", takes place every two years in Berlin;
- Top-level expertise in diverse related technologies, such as telematics, automotive engineering, materials engineering and information technology;
- The region is home to numerous centers of expertise, with link stakeholders from science & business;
- Research institutions with recognized rail technology competence like the Technical University of Berlin;
- Outstanding pool of highly qualified technical specialists and management talent due to various programs in the rail technology field at Berlin's universities and universities of applied sciences;
- The regional rail industry's strengths include control and steering technology, software, rail traffic management, track construction, passenger information systems and supply.