First German Railway Symposium in Mexico

DB Engineering & Consulting, together with other leading German companies such as Siemens Mobility and TÜV, actively participated in the symposium, which focused on knowledge transfer and collaboration between Germany and Mexico. The main theme of the event addressed the challenges of the Mexican railway sector through the German experience, providing valuable insights on how to apply best practices and innovation in the local context. 

During the symposium, in-depth discussions were held on several crucial topics, including the importance of safety and reliability in railway development, as well as the integration of digitalization and innovation in public transport. Emphasis was placed on adopting sustainable practices and structuring rail projects while navigating industry regulations. 

One of the most outstanding panels was the one dedicated to the application of the German experience to the Mexican reality. Participants in this panel included Gorden Rumpff, Executive Director for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean of DB Engineering & Consulting; Andreas Facco Bonetti, CEO Latin America for Siemens Mobility; Hermann Saenger, General Manager of TÜV Rheinland Mexico and Andreas Müller, Deputy Director at AHK Mexiko. 

The event also included a presentation on operational experience and shadow operation by DB Engineering & Consulting’s rail experts Sergio Luna and Cristian Oyarzo. This topic underlined the importance of meticulous planning and a clear vision in the operation from the early stages, to ensure informed and effective decisions that favor the success and sustainability of a rail project. 

Additionally, topics such as the structuring and planning of rail projects in Mexico, regulations and standardization of the sector, and mobility as a service (MaaS) were addressed. Moreover, the digitalization of public transportation in Mexican cities was discussed, offering a comprehensive view of future developments in rail infrastructure.

The symposium featured renowned panelists, including Mexico City’s Secretary of Mobility, Andrés Lajous; the Director of Transportation Projects of the National Infrastructure Fund (Fonadin), Fernando Tehuintle Basáñez; the General Director of the Metro Collective Transportation System (STC Metro), Guillermo Calderón; the President and Executive Representative of Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Oscar del Cueto; and the General Director of the Mexican Association of Railroads, Dr. Iker de Luisa. 

To close the event, the main conclusions were presented and attendees were invited to visit the InnoTrans Fair in Berlin together with our colleagues from DB E&C’s LATAM Region, a key international event for the future of rail transportation. 

The German Rail Symposium has been a fundamental meeting point to strengthen the ties between the Mexican and German rail industries and has established a solid foundation for future collaborations and developments in the sector.