Six Highlights from InnoTrans 2026: Designing Trains For People
Every two years, InnoTrans turns Berlin into the centre of the rail world. This year, our team walked the halls, climbed aboard trains and explored the outdoor tracks, taking in the latest passenger vehicles, design and technology, and considering how they might shape the rail passenger experience in the years ahead.
At tangerine, we see rail through the eyes of the passenger: how does the seat feel after three hours, or the handle in your hand when the train brakes? This year, one thing was clear. Trains are no longer designed simply to move people, but to host them. These six moments stood out.
1. From Rows to Zones
Passengers are more varied than ever, and train interiors are finally starting to reflect that. We saw carriages organised into zones: places to work or take a call, to be social with friends, or simply to switch off. Some spaces even change with the seasons, with ski storage that converts into bike racks for the summer.
Families were a big focus. ÖBB, Trenitalia and FLIRT Nordic Express all featured play areas for children, recognising families as a key customer group. The ÖBB mini train driver’s desk proved just as popular with the adults.
For designers, it raises the question: how do we use every metre as efficiently as possible while catering for a growing variety of needs?
Habits and expectations shift with the length and destination of each journey, so every train deserves its own answer.
2. Premium Seats, Borrowing from the Sky
Premium seats are becoming more premium. As rail wins over people who used to fly, and journeys grow longer, comfort in the seat matters more than ever. Electric adjustment is arriving, with new products from Clerprem and the seating specified for the FLIRT Nordic Express. Our highlight was the FLIRT’s fully adjustable back bolstering, which felt wonderful after a long day walking the show. The real test will be how these mechanisms hold up in daily service.
The ALISA night train concept, developed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) introduces configurable, in-between cabins with varying levels of privacy. Aviation and rail are moving closer together: more privacy, but with a far more flexible approach to it.
tangerine’s own concept, launched at Innotrans 2026, explores how you can create a hospitality designation on the rails. Find out more here.
3. Smaller Galleys, Bigger Social Moments
On the FLIRT Nordic Express, designed for journeys of more than seven hours, large on-board kitchens are giving way to compact preparation areas and grab-and-go retail. It mirrors the convenience-style culture we are used to in the city.
Vending machines featured on intercity trains from ÖBB and Trenitalia. They are rarely seen in the UK, but they make a lot of sense, especially when spread through the train so you don’t have to walk its full length to find the restaurant car.
Alongside them, compact bar-style hangout spaces stood out. They take up little room, but give passengers the chance to stretch their legs and eat away from their seat, turning a quick snack into a small social moment.
4. Lighter by Design
With more double-deck and battery-electric trains on the way, every kilogram counts. Lighter seats and interior components improve energy efficiency, increase capacity and extend battery range. GRAMMER showed lightweight seats on the Siemens Mireo Battery platform, while Expliseat presented carbon fibre seat structures.
CRRC applied the same thinking to the whole vehicle. Its VELLINK driverless metro is made from carbon fibre and light alloys, cutting energy consumption by 10% compared with conventional metro cars.
A charming detail came from Kiel, whose bus seats featured knitted seat backs with a small light glowing between the layers. A lovely way to reveal the material at its core.
5. Warmer, More Residential Interiors
Interiors are becoming softer, warmer and more residential. As we spend longer on board, passengers want calm and comfortable spaces, echoing the wellness trends we see in aviation. Quieter, less visually busy environments can also make a huge difference for neurodivergent passengers, and lighting has a big role to play here too.
In materials, big bold prints are giving way to texture. Lantal, Forbo and Tisca showed beautiful tactile fabrics and carpets, while moulded wood components brought a furniture-like quality to the cabin.
My personal favourite was the soft burgundy on the ceiling of the Trenitalia intercity: a simple gesture whose warmth made the whole space feel more inviting.
6. Tech Beneath the Surface
Some of the smartest innovations were hidden in the materials themselves or beneath the seats. Clerprem showed support structures that can be installed before the seats, protecting covers and frames from damage during fit-out.
After this year’s extreme summer heat, keeping trains cool matters for both comfort and efficiency. 3M launched Cooling Film, an exterior solution designed to reduce heat build-up, alongside sound-absorbing materials for a quieter ride.
3M, Simona and Sekisui Kydex also highlighted the anti-graffiti performance of their materials, addressing a persistent problem across many countries.
Personal technology is now expected, too. Almost every seat at the show included a device holder, while Hyundai Rotem also integrated wireless charging.
In Summary
InnoTrans 2026 showed that the future of rail is less about spectacle and more about care. Trains are becoming more flexible, more comfortable and more human, shaped around the many different people they carry and the journeys they make. From lightweight structures to burgundy ceilings, the best ideas balanced clever engineering with everyday experience.
If you’re shaping the next generation of rail interiors, we’d love to hear from you.
Until next time, Berlin. We’re already looking forward to 2028.
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Words by CMF Design Lead, Leonie Tenthof van Noorden