This week, I’m joining countless others heading to Berlin for InnoTrans 2026! Over the last few months, my focus has been on expanding Valour’s land mobility portfolio, with The Future of Connectivity in Mining – 2026 due to publish very soon. But I’m looking forward to stepping back into the rail domain, catching up with people across the industry, and getting a feel for what’s changed since our last rail connectivity study. Here’s what I’ll be keeping an eye on at this year’s show.
Influence of LEO connectivity
Having authored The Future of Connectivity in Rail – 2025 report, I’m keen to see how LEO-based connectivity is starting to shape vendor offerings and rail operators’ appetite for low-latency services. Our study found that, at the end of 2024, around 7% of trains globally were equipped with active passenger connectivity or real-time surveillance.
But having seen Starlink’s success in aviation and maritime, I’m curious to see whether it can build similar momentum in land mobility. Our research projects more than 4,500 satellite terminals will be in use on trains by 2034, with LEO services expected to play an increasingly important role in improving connectivity and network resilience.
Recent activity suggests that LEO connectivity is starting to move beyond isolated trials, with operators such as Italo, South Western Railway and Lumo progressing Starlink trials and deployment plans.
There are plenty of options emerging in this area for rail operators, so I’ll be interested to see how the vendor landscape is taking shape. In particular, I’ll be looking out for Hughes’ new HL1620 LEO antenna and Kymeta’s recently rail-certified Kestrel™ u5 offering to understand how both are positioning themselves in the market.
Leveraging trackside and cellular
It’s encouraging to see momentum building around LEO-based satellite connectivity, but our work also highlighted just how complex the rail environment can be for connectivity providers. There’s no silver bullet. The future is likely to involve a blend of technologies, with satellites working alongside existing cellular and trackside networks. I’ll be interested to see how the ecosystem is evolving around that more blended future state.
The role of AI
I’m also looking forward to exploring the latest technology on show, particularly how AI is being used in railway operations and how suppliers are responding to the industry’s cybersecurity challenges. These topics can sometimes feel broad or overused, so I’ll be interested in the practical examples: where the technology is genuinely helping operators, and where the hype still needs to catch up with reality.
Investment in connectivity infrastructure
One thing that’s become increasingly clear since publishing our report is that improving rail connectivity isn’t just about upgrading equipment onboard trains. Initiatives such as the UK’s Project Reach, which aims to tackle mobile blackspots along key railway routes and in tunnels, highlight how important supporting infrastructure will be. I’ll be looking to learn about similar programmes in Europe and beyond.
Beyond the technology, I’m looking forward to hearing about new railway projects, particularly those taking shape in the Middle East such as the Gulf Railway project. With so much investment going into new rail infrastructure across the region, there’s a real opportunity to build advanced connectivity into these networks from day one, rather than having to retrofit solutions further down the line.
Most importantly… networking
InnoTrans is always a great platform to catch up with familiar faces and meet new people across the industry. If you’re planning to be there, please do reach out — I’d love to catch up. And if you’d like to get my takeaways from the show, consider subscribing to our newsletter.
