Among the nine major Flagship Projects (FPs) funded by Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail), FP2-R2DATO plays a...
About the episode

Extreme climate events are no longer distant warnings—they’re a lived reality across Europe, from floods and droughts to heatwaves and wildfires. In this second episode of The European Railcast, host Karen Coleman explores how the EU’s rail system is being transformed to meet the urgent demands of the climate crisis.
She’s joined by Henk Samson, Senior Programme Manager for Innovation at Strukton Rail and Coordinator of Innovation Partnerships at EU-Rail, who explains how cutting-edge solutions—from electrification to predictive maintenance—are making rail transport greener, more efficient, and more resilient.
We also hear from Tilly Metz, Member of the European Parliament with the Greens/EFA Group, who shares her perspective on the political and legislative shifts needed to unlock rail’s full potential for a climate-neutral future.
Whether you’re in the transport sector or simply passionate about sustainability, this episode offers a closer look at how rail is powering the EU Green Deal—from innovation labs to the corridors of power.
The European Railcast: A Podcast About the Future of European Mobility is brought to you by Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking, the European partnership for rail research and innovation under the EU’s Horizon Europe programme.
Speakers & moderators

Jacki Davis

Tilly Metz

Henk Samson
Top Questions
- 1Within the EU-Rail partnership, how can rail transport contribute to reaching the very ambitious goal of climate neutrality in the bloc by 2050?
- 2What is happening with the electrification of Europe’s trains? How these innovations are being deployed across Europe?
- 3How is that rollout progressing?
- 4Will it be done in a way that’s sustainable and aligned with broader Green Deal goals?
- 5How is EU Rail helping to decarbonise the rail sector and support the shift to sustainable mobility?
- 6What impact do you see emerging from collaborative R&I efforts under Horizon Europe?
















