IVA 65: Modern Transportation

In 1965, the International Transport Exhibition or ‘Internationale Verkehrsausstellung, 65’ also known as ‘IVA 65’ was held in Munich’s Bavaria Park. Lasting for 100 days, the Expo was the first Specialised Expo dedicated to the overall theme of transportation and served as a stage for the latest transportation technology ranging from space travel to high-speed rail.

Recognised by the 51st session of the General Assembly of the BIE on 13 November 1962, Expo 1965 was focused on the challenges and opportunities of modern transportation, allowing specialists and the public to discover the latest innovations in the field. When planning for IVA 65 began in 1963 however, the decision was made to exclude the automobile industry from the Expo, although cars were tackled via a focus on road safety and urban traffic.

IVA 65 showcased ground-breaking innovations in transportation including laser technology, electronics, cybernetics and automation, with exhibits including life-sized models, projections and films. A total of 31 countries participated in the Expo, which attracted 2.5 million visitors.

Urban Transport

Thematic halls were devoted to road safety, urban traffic, public transport, and the general impact of transport on people.

Particular attention was paid to traffic in urban areas, as research in Germany had revealed a number of problems linked to road accidents, congestion and out-dated roads. One of the exhibition halls had a ‘city and traffic’ section dedicated to these issues.

The ‘safety car’ section showcased new technologies for brakes, tyres and lights, and also displayed educational films promising a modern society with safe and efficient means of transport.

IVA 65 placed a strong emphasis on the potential for public transport to solve the problems of urban congestion. Several models of subway trains were on display at the Expo, including a model of Berlin’s Kurfürstendamm station and a plans for Munich’s subway network, construction of which had only just began.

During the course of the Expo, visitors were able to test out high-speed E03 trains between Munich and Augsburg. The trains, which travelled at speeds of 200km/h and were the fastest of their kind in Germany at the time, took 26 minutes to complete the 62km journey.

New frontiers: Space Travel

Four years before Apollo 11’s moon landing and only months after the United States landed its first unmanned rocket on the moon, Expo 1965 was a veritable platform for the latest developments in aerospace engineering.

The International Centre of Astronautics was a key part of the Expo, displaying life-sized models of ‘Atlas’, the first US manned spacecraft to have orbited the earth, as well as a rocket designed by Germany during the First World War. The centre also featured several documentary films and discoveries from the rapidly growing field of space exploration.

Legacy

Expo 1965 was a world-class event, which brought prestige to Bavaria and the city of Munich. IVA 65 was followed by two other transport fairs that were held in Hamburg in 1979 and 1988. Since 1996, the bi-annual InnoTrans fair has been held in Berlin, although this is not recognised by the BIE due to its commercial nature.

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