IAF 2025: Why the Future of Rail Needs Both Tech and Talent
Last week, Global Rail Group was on site at IAF – the International Exhibition on Track Technology in Münster, Germany. Recognised as the leading global event for track technology and railway construction, IAF brings together professionals, innovators, and infrastructure experts from across the rail industry. But instead of the usual event recap, we thought we’d do something a little different this time.
Innovation Up Close
Meet Zsolt, Data Engineer at Global Rail Group, and your guide for the day. He is a curious mind with a passion for everything related to railways and will share his iaf highlights, what caught his eye, and how it felt like to be in the middle of one of the rail industry’s most important gatherings.
Zsolt arrived in Münster the best way a rail professional could – by train from Vienna. Since it was his first time attending iaf, the anticipation was high: “I knew the exhibition brings together a lot of different ecosystem stakeholders, but seeing the scale of the event was stunning.”
With a wide range of suppliers from vehicle and tool manufacturers to construction companies and other ecosystem players, the iaf is, as Zsolt puts it, “a great opportunity to explore the latest and greatest innovations in railway track maintenance.”
Skills in the Spotlight
As he made his way through the exhibition, even Zsolt was impressed by the variety of innovations on display – from large-scale machinery to smart tools and digital systems. Despite all the high-tech and the international atmosphere, one trend stood out clearly to him: “The importance of digitalization and data is constantly growing, but people and skills are still in the center of the focus.”
He adds that as the number of digital applications and supporting systems continues to grow, the skills required for track maintenance are also changing rapidly. That’s also why Global Rail’s Academy and Recruitment Services played an important role at iaf. As technologies evolve, so do the skillsets needed to keep rail networks running safely and efficiently. Whether it is through targeted training programmes, upskilling opportunities, or connecting the right talent with careers in rail, we are committed to shaping a future-proof workforce that can grow with the industry.
As a data engineer, Zsolt usually sees the railway infrastructure and its maintenance from a detailed, yet often abstract perspective. That made iaf the perfect opportunity to examine some of the measurement and maintenance vehicles up close, connect with the crews and get a real sense of the challenges they face on a daily basis.
Back at the Global Rail Group booth after finishing his tour around the hall, Zsolt was happy to see how popular the simulator was that we brought along to the event. Here, attendees had the chance to try out what it feels like to work as a tamping machine operator. Some took it slow and steady, others went all in – and a few found out the hard way what happens when you miss a sleeper. “You could tell it wasn’t just a fun activity; it actually gave people a sense of what the job is like out in the field.”
The Past, Present and Future of Railways
One of his personal highlights? Watching a welding robot in action – a technology that he sees a lot of potential for in the future. And overall, even as someone who works with data on a day-to-day basis, Zsolt was fascinated by just how much of what he saw at the event connected back to data.
An unexpected highlight, however, was the special exhibition “200 Years of Railways” that featured rare exhibits from the early days of rail, dating back as far as 1750. “I am proud of the history and heritage of the railways”, he said. “It is inspiring to contribute to a 200-year-old story.” From beautifully preserved models to rarely before seen artefacts, the exhibition offered a unique bridge between the past and the future of rail – and served as a powerful reminder of just how far the industry has come.
For Zsolt, the day at iaf was more than just an exhibition, it was an opportunity to step away from his job behind the screen and into the environment his work supports every day. As he boarded the night train back to Vienna, one thought stuck with him: the future of rail might be digital, but it still runs on people – their skills, insights, and their passion.
Missed us at iaf? No worries – our team is always ready to connect. Explore our services to see how we support the rail industry with the right people, skills and solutions. Heading to UITP as well? Your next chance to meet us is just around the corner.
