Trako (officially Trako International Railway Fair) is the largest railway trade fair in Poland and the second largest in Europe.
The exhibition was held in Gdynia in 1996, 1998, and 1999, and since 2001, it has taken place in Gdańsk every two years as part of the Gdańsk International Fair. Since 2013, the event has been hosted at the exhibition and office complex, located at 11 Żaglowa Street in Gdańsk.
The project director is Dorota Daszkowska-Kosewska.
History
In the mid-1990s, Poland's economic transformations focused on advancing transportation. The only recurring national railway rolling stock exhibition at the time was part of the Poznań International Fair. In 1995, the idea of organizing a specialized railway trade fair emerged at the East European World Trade Center Gdynia Expo. The goal was to showcase technological advancements, facilitate information exchange on development trends, and review global railway industry tendencies. Gdynia was chosen as the venue, with the event planned on a biennial cycle. The first Trako was held in 1996, a collaboration between WTC Gdynia Expo, Polish State Railways, industry associations, and academics. After the 1998 edition, exhibitors' suggestions led to scheduling Trako in odd-numbered years to avoid overlapping with the Berlin-based InnoTrans fair. The first three events took place at WTC Gdynia Expo at 7/9 Tadeusz Wenda Street, pioneering the railway trade fair concept in Poland.
In March 2000, the Gdańsk International Fair acquired the rights to organize all trade fairs in the Tricity area from WTC Gdynia Expo, integrating them. The 4th Trako edition in 2001 was held at the MTG Exhibition Centre at Maurycy Beniowski Street in Gdańsk, with rolling stock displayed at the Gdańsk Oliwa railway station. This edition established Trako among the most significant transport exhibitions in Central and Eastern Europe. Exhibitor interest grew with each subsequent event.
In 2007, the rolling stock exhibition expanded to include a siding at the MTG site. The Chamber of Urban Transport became a partner, broadening the fair's scope to include tram transportation. In 2013, the 10th, jubilee edition of Trako was held at the new Exhibition and Congress Centre and the nearby , close to the Gdańsk Stadium in Letnica district. Since then, Trako has been recognized as Poland's largest and Europe's second-largest railway trade fair.
Editions Edition Date Organizers Exhibition venue Rolling stock display Exhibitors Countries Visitors Sources I 1–4 October 1996 Polish State Railwaysand WTC Gdynia Expo WTC Gdynia Expo Gdynia Główna 104 8 3,100 II 23–25 September 1998 104 5 3,100 III 20–22 October 1999 Gdynia Port Centralny 108 4 3,200 IV 17–19 October 2001 Polish State Railways and MTG MTG Exhibition Centre Gdańsk Oliwa 134 11 3,600 V 15–17 October 2003 198 15 3,690 VI 12–14 October 2005 264 17 6,003 VII 10–12 October 2007 Gdańsk Oliwaand MTG siding 343 17 8,974 VIII 14–16 October 2009 420 17 9,200 IX 11–14 October 2011 MTG siding 461 16 9,680 X 24–27 September 2013 510 25 12,892 XI 22–25 September 2015 Over 600 20 15,473 XII 26–29 September 2017 700 25 16,421 XIII 24–27 September 2019 647 32 17,784 XIV 21–24 September 2021 Over 500 39 23,000 XV 19–22 September 2023
1996
The first edition, titled 1st Trako International Railway Convention '96, took place from 1 to 4 October 1996 at the Expo hall in Gdynia. Exhibition stands, spread across two floors, featured domestic railway companies (primarily ZNTK), international firms, and trade publications. A scientific-technical conference ran concurrently, while rolling stock was displayed at Gdynia Główna railway station: Alstom Konstal: Tank wagon for liquid gas, tank wagon for liquid fuels Deutsche Waggonbau: Double-deck control car for 1st and 2nd class in push-pull train systems, two-axle wagon with sliding walls for oversized cargo Tabor Railway Vehicle Institute: Bimodal transport set with two tankers and one box trailer : Two-axle wagon with sliding walls for oversized cargo ZNTK Bydgoszcz and ZNTK Nowy Sącz: Sleeping car type Görlitz ZNTK Gniewczyna: Four-axle coal wagon type 424W, wagon with sliding hoods ZNTK Piła: SM42-2000 : Track maintenance train type PS-00
1998
The 2nd Trako International Railway Convention was held from 23 to 25 September 1998 in Gdynia. The main hall hosted exhibitor stands, including leading international rolling stock manufacturers and most domestic producers and repair plants. On the first day, a press conference featured Polish State Railways CEO Jan Janik, outlining the company's restructuring plans. The event included the symposium Railway into the 21st Century and the first-ever Trako awards. In the Ernest Malinowski competition for the best product, three equal distinctions were awarded to: an automated passenger information system from ZNTK Mińsk Mazowiecki, an axle counter from Frauscher Polska, and a hydraulic level crossing drive from Kombud. Six exhibitors received awards for the most interesting displays: Adtranz, Alstom, Bombardier, , Taps, and Siemens. Freight wagons were displayed on tracks next to the hall, and at Gdynia Główna: Bombardier: Talent ZNTK Nowy Sącz: Modernized dining car, modernized technical wagon for track surface inspection
1999
The 3rd edition, renamed Trako International Railway Fair 1999, was held from 20 to 22 October 1999, exceptionally a year after the previous event to avoid overlapping with Berlin's InnoTrans fair, held in even-numbered years. The Ernest Malinowski awards were given to: a bogie type 25ANa by ZNTK Poznań, a computer-based automatic block signaling system by Adtranz, and a modular electrical control cabinet for passenger cars by ZNTK Bydgoszcz. A new award named after Czesław Jaworski recognized outstanding achievements in electric traction technology. The award went to the Institute of Electrical Apparatus at Łódź University of Technology, ABB, and Woltan for a new generation of direct current circuit breakers. Distinctions were awarded to: asbestos-free modernized traction contactors by Adtranz, a static railway converter by , and a static passenger car converter by Adtranz. The best exhibition stands were recognized in categories for areas above and below 35 m². Rolling stock was displayed on sidings near the exhibition hall at Gdynia Port Centralny: Adtranz: Regio-Shuttle RS1 Alstom Konstal: Self-discharging wagon Falns 121 Tabor Polski: Self-discharging wagon Falns for bulk materials, self-discharging wagon Sis with variable wheel gauge bogie ZNTK Bydgoszcz: Self-discharging wagon 443V Fal
2001
The 4th Trako International Railway Fair was held from 17 to 19 October 2001 at the MTG and Gdańsk Oliwa. Despite a stagnant railway market, over 130 exhibitors participated, setting a record at the time. The event featured seminars, the symposium Friendly Railway Transport, and the model exhibition World of Small Railways. Several competitions were judged. Three equal Ernest Malinowski awards went to Siemens, Adtranz, and Pesa, with a distinction for Kombud. The Czesław Jaworski award was won by Enika, with distinctions for Frauscher Polska and Arex, which also received the Association of Polish Electrical Engineers President's medal. Voith won for the best stand under 20 m², while Siemens took the award for stands over 20 m². The rolling stock exhibition included: Alstom: Coradia LINT 41 : 436S Snpss Fabryka Wagonów Gniewczyna: 401Zp Pesa: Partner (competition winner) Rybnik: SM42 : 218K Hbbins, 437Z Shmmns
2003
The 5th Trako International Railway Fair took place from 15 to 17 October 2003. Interest exceeded the previous edition, signaling a revival in Poland's railway industry. A notable event was the signing of a contract between PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe and Alstom Pojazdy Szynowe for the design, delivery, and installation of railway signalling devices on part of the . The event included the conference Railway – Integration – Europe, a Association of Polish Electrical Engineers seminar on Impact of Maintenance Quality on Electrical Safety and Passenger Security, the World of Small Railways exhibition, and the third Polish Railway Model Championships. Ernest Malinowski awards went to Kombud, Pesa, Vossloh, Communication Automation and Telecommunication Plants in Poznań, and Taps. The Czesław Jaworski special award was won by Woltan, with distinctions for Enika, , and . Kamax had the most attractive stand under 20 m², and Pesa won for stands above this size. Displayed rolling stock included: Bombardier: Push-pull train led by locomotive 219 125 Pesa: 306A (competition winner) Warsaw Commuter Railway: Lounge car ZNLE Gliwice: 3E/1-86
2005 The 6th Trako International Railway Fair was held from 12 to 14 October 2005. It saw a record number of exhibitors and a surge in the component market. Exhibitors showcased braking systems, Poland's first and one of Europe's few power inverter-based drive systems, voltage converters, current collectors, high-speed circuit breakers, interior equipment, and air conditioners.
The day before the fair, a seminar addressed Interface of 1435/1520 mm Railway Systems: Interoperability, Standardization, Certification. After the opening, a debate titled I Choose the Railway was held. On the second day, a two-session conference discussed Polish Railways in the Liberalized EU Market.
Equal Ernest Malinowski awards were given to Alstom Pojazdy Szynowe, Bumar-Fablok, and PKP Informatyka, with distinctions for , Graw Technical Services Company, Communication Automation and Telecommunication Plants, and . The Czesław Jaworski award went to Pesa, with distinctions for Graw, Medcom, and Enika. Pesa also received the Association of Polish Electrical Engineers President's medal. The most attractive stands were by Cargosped and .
Approximately 500 meters of exhibition tracks featured: Bumar-Fablok: ST44-3001 (competition winner) Masovian Railways: EN57-1920 Newag: 14WE-02 Halny Pesa: EN81-001, SA131-001 PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe: ZNLE Gliwice: ET22-2000 Sigma Poznań: 60-1341-1, , W 232.08
2007 The 7th Trako International Railway Fair was held from 10 to 12 October 2007. The event saw another increase in exhibitors, making it the second-largest railway trade fair in Europe. Stands were set up in three halls, with the newest opened just before the event, and outdoors. Exhibitors offered a full range of products and services, including urban rail transport.
The day before the fair, the second edition of the seminar Interface of 1,435/1,520 mm Railway Systems: Interoperability – Safety – Technologies and the first seminar Ad adapting Tram Transport to Modern Passenger Expectations took place. After the opening, a debate titled Railway in Poland in 2020 was held, followed by seminars on the second day: Rail Transport Market in Poland – Experiences and Forecasts and Railways in Agglomerations.
In the Ernest Malinowski competition, three equal awards went to Kombud, Modertrans Poznań, and PKP Informatyka, with nine distinctions awarded to , Graw, Newag, ZNTK Poznań, Industrial Institute of Automation and Measurements, Tines, Siemens, Woltan, and Non-Electrical Quantities Measurement Electronics Plant. The Czesław Jaworski award was won by Woltan, with distinctions for and Pesa, which also received the Association of Polish Electrical Engineers President's medal. For the first time, awards for long-term contributions to rail transport technology were given to Enika, Pesa, and Siemens. The most attractive stands were presented by Cantoni Motor, ZNLE Gliwice, Stadler Polska, Siemens, Medcom, and Knorr-Bremse.
The rolling stock exhibition was expanded with a newly built three-track siding, displaying: Angel Trains Poland: F140 MS Traxx Bombardier Transportation: Twindexx control car : 118N Puma (competition distinction) Masovian Railways: EN57KM-1486 Newag: 6Dg-01 (competition distinction), 311D-04 Pesa: ED74-005 Bydgostia