Latest Trends in the Global Railway Industry... 'Busan International Railway Technology Industry Exhibition' Held

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Busan City will hold the "2023 Busan International Railway Technology Industry Exhibition (RailLog Korea 2023)" at BEXCO for four days from the 14th to the 17th.

2023 Busan International Railway Technology Industry Exhibition (RailLog Korea 2023) Poster.

The Busan International Railway Technology Industry Exhibition is one of the world's four major railway industry specialized exhibitions and the only railway-related specialized exhibition in Korea. Held biennially since 2003, this year marks the 11th edition, gathering the latest global trends in the railway industry.

Co-hosted by Busan City, the Korea Rail Network Authority, Korea Railroad Corporation, and SR Corporation, and jointly organized by BEXCO, Messe Frankfurt Korea, the Korea Rolling Stock Industry Association, and the Korea Rail Association, the event will feature various programs to implement a railway business platform, including export consultations, new technology seminars, and railway company recruitment briefings.

Notably, this year’s exhibition is the largest ever, with participants from 14 countries, 120 companies, and 970 booths. Railway institutions such as the Korea Rail Network Authority, Korea Railroad Corporation, SR Corporation, and Busan Transportation Corporation, as well as domestic and international railway vehicle manufacturers like Hyundai Rotem, Woojin Industrial Systems, and Dawonsys, will participate in large numbers, providing an opportunity to get a comprehensive view of the global railway industry.

▲ The Korea Rail Network Authority, a co-hosting organization, will showcase advanced railway construction methods and carbon-neutral technologies, along with smart railway demonstrations through 3D anamorphic media art videos. ▲ Korea Railroad Corporation will set up exhibition booths featuring KTX driving simulators, virtual reality (VR) safety experiences, metaverse activities, and diorama displays. ▲ SR Corporation will exhibit the future of Korea’s railways, including railway safety, VR train operation experiences, route expansion, and advanced vehicle manufacturing and maintenance systems. ▲ Busan Transportation Corporation will operate various citizen participation programs such as electric train driving simulators and QR ticket experiences.

Additionally, ▲ Korea Railroad Research Institute will display hybrid hydrogen trains based on hydrogen fuel cells and secondary batteries, models, and hyperloop technology with a top speed of 1,200 km/h along with scaled models. ▲ Hyundai Rotem will present its largest-ever booth featuring various real vehicles such as high-speed trains, electric trains, and trams, as well as hydrogen production facilities, hydrogen mobility, and mobile fuel cell power stations, demonstrating its technology and capabilities for future hydrogen mobility in the railway sector. ▲ Woojin Industrial Systems will introduce VR implementations of the recently ordered Wirye Line tram vehicles and the newly developed hydrogen electric trains. Lastly, ▲ Dawonsys will exhibit the new mainline electric multiple unit (EMU)-150 (150 km/h class distributed power type) trains and key components including bogies, converters (C/I), static inverters (SIV), and train control and management systems (TCMS). Other participants such as KOBA, which developed Korea’s first viscoelastic fluid technology-based shock absorber buffers, will also showcase various technologies and products.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event will be more active and field-oriented. Notably, the International Organization for Cooperation of Railways (OSJD) Ministerial Meeting will be held concurrently, providing a great opportunity to showcase Korea’s railway-related industries to railway authorities from Eurasian countries. An international Hyperloop conference will also be held, attracting top CEOs from leading global Hyperloop companies.

Various side events will also be organized, including face-to-face export consultations, technology seminars showcasing cutting-edge technologies, and a railway recruitment briefing jointly held by railway public enterprises and large corporations to address youth unemployment and create jobs, expected to generate optimal synergy effects.

Mayor Park Hyung-jun stated, “The Busan International Railway Technology Industry Exhibition held in Busan, the transportation and logistics hub of Northeast Asia and the gateway city to the Eurasian continental railway, holds special significance.” He added, “As this is an opportunity to widely promote Korea’s railway industry technology, we will strive to make the event successful.”

During the exhibition, the 14th to the 16th will be business days for industry professionals, and the 17th will be open to the general public.