The attractive environment of the #rail2009, where renowned stakeholders of the railway and transport industry come together, is used by many associations and institutions for organising their own events. The Deutscher Städte- und Gemeindebund (Federation of German Cities and Townships), the Deutscher Städtetag (Association of German Cities and Towns) as well as the Deutscher Landkreistag (German County Association) come together in Dortmund for their respective meetings. The BAG SPNV (Federal Working Group on Regional Rail Transport) invites to their board meeting during the #rail, and the Allianz pro Schiene (Alliance pro Rail) has decided to stage their sponsor meeting inside the Westfalenhalle congress centre. So, once again the #rail combines the convention and congress events of the year with current top events of relevant partners and stakeholders and thus backs up its importance as a meeting point of the industry.