Europe’s Rail in 2024

2024 marked the successful conclusion of the Shift2Rail Programme, with all contractual activities finalised and projects fully paid. Over its lifetime, the programme delivered transformative results, including 695 prototype tests and 72 new products, significantly improving reliability, capacity, and cost efficiency and lowering life-cycle costs in the rail sector. The results are showcased in our new digital Catalogue of Solutions, setting a solid foundation for the EU-Rail Programme. 

The EU-Rail Programme achieved significant milestones, marking an important phase in its objective to improve rail transport in Europe. The year’s results, validated through maturity checkpoints, demonstrate the programme’s commitment to building a sustainable, efficient, and interoperable rail network. 

The Innovation Pillar delivered advancements across its flagship projects, driving sustainability, efficiency, and innovation: 

• FP1-MOTIONAL: Federated Data Space development continued, with architecture and sandbox environments maturing to support predictive maintenance and advanced traffic management. The digital twin methodology was also finalised. 

• FP2-R2DATO: The remote-controlled tram demonstration in Oslo showcased advances in automation and energy hub integration for urban rail systems. The project also moved forward with specifications for Moving Block technology, which is now undergoing initial testing. 

• FP3-IAM4RAIL: Robotic platforms for infrastructure monitoring reached field-test readiness, with installations and data collection for most asset management use cases now completed. 

• FP4-Rail4Earth: Progress was made in developing hydrogen high-pressure tanks and energy management systems for hydrogen and battery-electric trains, key components of energy-efficient and zero-emission rolling stock. Demonstrations of these technologies, along with urban energy hubs, are underway. 

• FP5-TRANS4M-R: Digital Automatic Coupling advanced with the finalisation of operational procedures and system requirement specifications. Harmonised functions were defined under the EDDP, and initial testing began, paving the way for large-scale trials. 

• FP6-Future: The project delivered its first concept for modular and lightweight rolling stock, offering flexibility, reduced lifecycle costs, and emission-free operation. Preparations for demonstrations of cost-efficient command and control systems (CCS) also progressed. 

Additionally, the Made4Rail project was successfully concluded with its final event, taking place during InnoTrans. 

On the System Pillar side, progress was achieved. The first edition of the Standardisation and TSI Input Plan (STIP) was published, providing a framework for technical interoperability aligned with the European Green Deal. Advances were also made in defining onboard and trackside system architectures and integrating these into ETCS Level 2 frameworks, alongside the publication of the System Pillar Data Model. Work on a European harmonised operational rulebook for ETCS L2 operations also commenced, in close cooperation with ERA. Furthermore, draft cybersecurity guidelines were released, addressing the growing need for robust digital safeguards across rail operations. 

In June, EU-Rail released an updated MAWP, which reflected emerging priorities and integrated lessons learned from early projects. It reflects major content updates in relation to artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, Europe rail next communication system, climate adaptation, and regional solutions. This programme set the stage for the next phases of innovation, fostering synergy among stakeholders. 

The Europe’s Rail Call for Proposals 2024 allocated €21.7 million for projects, with submissions open until 7 May 2024. This initiative marked a pivotal step in fostering synergies with the Smart Network and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU). The focus was on validating and testing digital and automated operations for the next EU rail communication system under a flagship project. Building on outcomes from Europe’s Rail Flagship Projects 2 R2DATO and 6 FutuRe, the Call further supported advancements in Full Digital Freight Train Operations and hyperloop technology convergence, addressing technical, operational, and economic aspects. Results from the Shift2Rail programme formed the foundation for this effort. Detailed information is available in the Work Programme 2024. 

Two key grant agreements were signed under the 2024 Call for Proposals: 

• FP2-Morane2, which will carry out the testing and validation of the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS). 

• Hyper4Rail, exploring hyperloop feasibility and integration into rail systems, reflecting EU-Rail’s forward-looking approach to disruptive innovations. 

Europe’s Rail announced seven projects worth €21.2 million under the 2023 Call for Proposals, co-funding up to €11.7 million. These projects are focusing on multimodal rail mobility, exploratory research, and key areas such as noise reduction, future metro systems, and DAC retrofitting. The Call brought together 114 entities from 22 countries, emphasising collaboration and innovation to meet Europe’s evolving transportation needs. A key milestone was the joint topic with the SESAR 3 joint Undertaking, resulting in a project titled Travel Wise. 

The Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking encouraged expressions of interest from stakeholders in the rail freight sector for large-scale testing of Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) technology using 100 pre-deployment trains. This initiative aims to evaluate functionality, reliability, and added value across diverse European regions, aligning with the DAC General Master Plan. After completing the expression of interest phase, the European Commission published its latest Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) call in September 2024, which includes Pioneer DAC Trains (PDT) as one of the eligible topics. The large-scale tests, once carried out, will provide insights into operational performance, supporting the adoption of DAC in real-life scenarios. Submissions for the CEF call are due by 21 January 2025. 

InnoTrans 2024 showcased Europe’s Rail’s commitment to sustainable and innovative rail transport through joint participation with the European Commission and ERA. A major highlight of the event was the high-speed special train journey from the capitals Brussels to Berlin, supported by Members and partners, which brought together key stakeholders from across the rail sector, offering a unique platform for dialogue and collaboration during the ride. This journey symbolised the seamless connectivity and sustainability that rail transport aims to deliver in Europe. 

The event also featured a successful remote tram demonstration from Oslo, highlighting advancements in automation and control technologies for urban rail systems. Another key activity was the visit to the Train Test Lab in Spandau, where attendees witnessed live demonstrations of the Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) technology. This demonstration clearly underscored the potential of DAC in improving efficiency and interoperability across European rail networks. It was a pleasure to host German State Secretary Henckel and representatives from the European Commission, who delivered keynote speeches. 

In addition to these highlights, InnoTrans 2024 launched the digital Catalogue of Solutions showcasing clear results and concrete technologies developed. Together, these activities demonstrated the sector’s commitment to advancing rail as a sustainable, efficient, and innovative transport mode. 

The Connecting Europe Days, held in Brussels from 2-5 April, served as a flagship event for Europe’s mobility initiatives. On 2 April, a side event titled “The Future of Rail Freight” showcased live demonstrations of DAC technology at Train World, featuring high-profile speakers such as Mr. Georges Gilkinet, Mr. Volker Wissing, and Ms. Magda Kopczyńska. The event also included a panel discussion moderated by Mr. Kristian Schmidt, highlighting innovations in rail automation. Additionally, Europe’s Rail participated in sessions addressing infrastructure sustainability, emerging technologies, and presented priorities through marketplace sessions. 

Europe’s Rail joined forces with SESAR, Clean Hydrogen, and Clean Aviation JUs at the Transport Research Arena (TRA) 2024 in Dublin, held under the theme ‘Transport Transitions: Advancing Sustainable and Inclusive Mobility’. Key sessions explored topics such as rail traffic management, predictive maintenance, and disruptive guided transport solutions. A standout session, ‘Hydrogen for Heavy Duty Transportation’, emphasised synergies across EU partnerships. Europe’s Rail’s involvement presented its commitment to advancing sustainable rail innovations and fostering collaboration with other EU initiatives. 

The 2024 Women in Rail Award, hosted at InnoTrans, celebrated contributions by women to the rail industry. The event highlighted companies, initiatives, projects and individuals fostering female empowerment and showcased inspiring individual achievements. Awardees included Maria-Luisa Dominguez for Leadership and Mentoring, Metro Istanbul for Women Empowerment, and Veronica Elena Bocci for Research and Innovation. This initiative aimed to inspire a more inclusive and diverse rail workforce, essential for driving innovation and sustainability. 

The EU-Rail Governing Board appointed Giorgio Travaini as Executive Director of Europe’s Rail. With a career spanning 18 years, Giorgio’s expertise was pivotal in aligning EU-Rail’s objectives with Europe’s Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy. His leadership aims to foster collaboration, accelerate innovation, and ensure the rail sector remains competitive and sustainable. 

Europe’s Rail launched its Call for Expression of Interest to attract new associated members. The initiative sought partners to advance innovative rail research under Horizon Europe, focusing on safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Evaluation of the submitted proposals is ongoing and will be finalised in early 2025. 

The 2024 General Assembly provided a platform to review the past year’s achievements and outline future objectives. Stakeholders engaged in strategic discussions, while an open online event offered insights into ongoing activities and accomplishments from the System and Innovation Pillars, as well as the newly launched Deployment Group. 

The EU-Rail Deployment Group was officially established. The group began accelerating the implementation of innovative solutions across Europe’s rail sector. Focused on bridging the gap between research and deployment, the Group facilitates coordinated strategies for large-scale implementation of systems like the Future Radio Mobile Communications System (FRMCS). This initiative represented a critical step in realising the Single European Railway Area. 

The launch of the Digital Catalogue of Solutions offered stakeholders an interactive platform to explore innovative rail solutions. Features included filtering by beneficiary and solution maturity, showcasing advancements such as autonomous monitoring and structural strengthening methods to extend infrastructure lifespan. This tool provides valuable resources for implementing sustainable and efficient rail technologies.