IT-TRANS 2026 will feature a comprehensive congress programme conducted entirely in English, which will take place in Karlsruhe from 3 to 5 March. The programme covers the entire spectrum of modern mobility, from people-centric mobility and demand-responsive transport to digitalisation, AI applications and sustainable energy.
Thematic focus
The congress programme focuses on practical, future-oriented solutions for public transport and intelligent mobility. The core topics are:
- People-Centric Mobility & Passenger Information: Innovative approaches to passenger-centred services, including smartphone-based inclusive navigation systems, real-time data integration and barrier-free mobility.
- Demand Responsive Transport (DRT): Autonomous ride pooling, AI-supported control of on-demand services and optimised dispatcher solutions.
- Planning & Operations: Data-based passenger and network planning, AI-controlled routing and recovery systems, and multi-source analyses for the comparability of transport services.
- Digitalisation & Data: Use of big data and AI, mobility data rooms for B2B and B2G applications, real-time analyses and cloud-based project support.
- Autonomous & Vehicle Concepts: Intelligent vehicle concepts, optimisation of intermodal solutions, cable cars as part of sustainable urban development.
- Energy & Sustainability: Optimised energy management for electric operations, simulation and prediction of energy consumption in buses and trains.
- Smart City & Integrated Mobility: Global integration of mobility services, virtual traffic models and innovative urban concepts.
Programme structure and sessions
The congress programme combines different formats to offer participants a variety of perspectives and interactive experiences:
- Keynote sessions: Inspiring insights into current and future challenges in the mobility sector.
- Parallel sessions: In-depth specialist presentations on specific topics, from people-centric mobility to energy efficiency.
- Panel discussions: Discussion rounds with experts who shed light on new strategies, best practices and lessons learned.
- Market update forums: Market and technology trends for professionals.
- Networking events & side events: Platforms for exchange, cooperation and practical dialogue.
Highlights include:
- ‘Remote Host’: Reinventing Human-Centred Passenger Services in Train Stations by Laurie Espinosa.
- Routing Reimagined: Real-Time Public Transport Recovery with AI by John-Peter Veldkamp.
- AI-Powered Guidance for Visually Impaired Passengers in Railway Stations and Trains by Matthieu Leveque, Camille Maldjian, Julien Minerval and Cédric Feldmann.
- Bridging the Gender Gap in Automated Vehicle Acceptance – Insights from the ALIKE project in Hamburg by Nadine Kostorz-Weiss and team.
- Energy Simulation and Optimised Charge Management for Electric Bus and Truck Depots by Karsten Wasiluk.
The sessions cover all aspects of modern public transport, from passenger information and ticketing solutions to autonomous mobility, energy efficiency and smart city integration.
Expertise behind the programme
The IT-TRANS 2026 programme committee has put a great deal of effort into designing the congress programme. Under the leadership of PD Dr.-Ing. Martin Kagerbauer, deputy director of the Institute of Transportation Systems at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and managing partner of INOVAPLAN GmbH, the submissions were carefully evaluated and new ideas were introduced.
Thanks to the committee’s expertise, participants can look forward to a high-calibre, practical and future-oriented programme that combines current challenges, innovative technologies and strategic solutions.
