Birger Steffensen, CEO of Siemens Mobility Norway, opened the day not with technical specifications, but with a powerful human story. He described a 13-year-old girl fainting on a crowded commuter train - not due to a technical failure, but simply because there were too many people in too little space.

This is no longer 'breaking news'; it is the daily reality for thousands of passengers, Steffensen stated. He challenged the notion that a new 70-billion NOK tunnel, planned for 2052, is the only solution.

The strategic importance of the event was underscored by State Secretary Cecilie Kroglund from the Ministry of Transport. She highlighted the government’s expectations for a more robust and efficient railway and expressed strong interest in how technology can accelerate the transition to predictive maintenance and smarter operations.

The audience received a global perspective from Dr. Claus Bahlmann, Siemens Mobility’s Global Head of AI, who demonstrated how artificial intelligence is transforming the industry from reactive to proactive operations.

This was followed by a deep dive into the S-Bahn Hamburg project, a real-world example of how Automatic Train Operation (ATO) is already delivering significant results. The presentation showed how Hamburg is increasing capacity by up to 30% on existing infrastructure - providing a highly relevant model for the challenges facing the Norwegian rail network today.

Technology Day 2026 confirmed a strong collective will to accelerate the digitalization of the Norwegian railway. The insights and partnerships generated during the day will serve as a foundation for continued dialogue between authorities, operators, and technology providers.

Siemens Mobility remains committed to being a driving force in this journey, turning inspiration into real-world solutions for a more sustainable and efficient transport system.