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          Discover Innovation pillar
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          Innovation Pillar

          EU-Rail’s Innovation Pillar (IP) is tasked to deliver operational and technological solutions that contribute to a more efficient, flexible, and demand-led, yet safe and environmentally sustainable European railway system. The activities undertaken aim at large-scale demonstrations and they also cover technologies of all readiness levels as well as exploratory research.

          Explore System pillar

          About

          The System Pillar is the “generic system integrator” for the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail), and the architect of the future EU’s railway system.

          Outputs

          Discover key outputs from the System Pillar.

          Governance

          Discover the Governance structure and key decisions from the System Pillar.

          Key documents

          Discover the System Pillar document library.

          Discover System pillar

          System Pillar

          The System Pillar provides governance, resource, and outputs to support a coherent and coordinated approach to the evolution of the rail system and the development of the system view.

          Discover Deployment Group
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          Deployment Group

          The Deployment Group advises the EU-Rail Governing Board on the market uptake of rail innovation developments and support their deployment. Its activities thus form a bridge between the research and innovation process and the coordinated implementation through recommendations for deployment in the rail system.

          Explore the DAC Delivery Programme

          For a successful and effective implementation of the Digital Automatic Coupler for European rail freight (DAC), it is of crucial importance to have open, close and efficient cooperation between rail stakeholders. The European DAC Delivery Programme enabled by Europe’s Rail, offers a unique European platform for such cooperation and collaboration.

          About Shift2Rail

          Explore more information about the Europe's Rail predecessor programme.

          Explore Shift2Rail

          Shift2Rail Programme

          Explore the detailed information about the Shift2Rail Innovation Programmes.

          Organisation

          Explore the structure of the Shift2Rail programme.

          Shift2Rail Projects

          Get a glimpse of the Shift2Rail Projects and their achievements.

          Discover Shift2Rail

          The Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking is the predecessor programme of the Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail), established by Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 of 19 November 2021.

           

        • Projects

          Discover detailed information on Europe's rail innovation initiatives, showcasing flagship and other projects aimed at enhancing rail systems across Europe. It highlights collaborative efforts funded by the European Union to develop sustainable, efficient, and competitive rail transport solutions.

           

          Solutions catalogue

          Europe’s Rail Catalogue of Solutions illustrates successful R&I results in the form of possible products and solutions, while highlighting the benefits for final users, operators, infrastructure managers and/or suppliers. This publication also outlines the advantages of integrating demonstrators into market solutions so that they can deliver the rail innovation Capabilities of the future.

        • Who we are?

          About Europe's Rail

          Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail) is established by Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 of 19 November 2021. It is the new European partnership on rail research and innovation established under the Horizon Europe programme (2020-2027) and the universal successor of the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking.

           

          Explore About Europe's Rail

          Mission and objectives

          The objective of Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking is to deliver a high capacity integrated European railway network by eliminating barriers to interoperability and providing solutions for full integration, covering traffic management, vehicles, infrastructure and services, aiming to achieve faster uptake and deployment of projects and innovations.

          Preparatory Activities

          Discover the the processes and background information on the preparation of the Joint Undertaking.

          Jobs

          Browse latest Europe's Rail vacancies.

          Discover Europe's Rail Members

          Find out the full list of Europe's Rail Members.

           

          Explore Structure of Governance

          Governing Board & General Assembly

          The Europe's Rail Governing Board oversees Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking, guiding strategy, budgets, and work plans. It includes the European Commission and rail industry stakeholders, aiming to innovate and integrate Europe's rail systems, boosting efficiency, sustainability, and alignment with EU Green Deal goals.

          States Representatives Group

          The Europe's Rail States Representatives Group advises the Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking. It comprises representatives from EU member states and associated countries, ensuring alignment of Europe's Rail activities with national policies, facilitating cooperation, and providing input on rail innovation, integration, and sustainable development across Europe.

          Scientific Steering Group

          The Europe's Rail Scientific Steering Group provides scientific and technical advice to the Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking. Comprising experts from academia and research institutions, it ensures that research projects align with cutting-edge science and innovation, supporting the development of a modern, sustainable European rail system.

          Executive Director

          Find out more information about the Europe's Rail Executive Director.

          Discover Structure of Governance

          Discover the full structure and governance of Europe's Rail, including the decisions of the Governing Board.

           

          Explore Reference Documents

          Key Documents

          Discover main Europe's Rail documentation.

          Annual Work Plan and Budget

          Find out about our key priortires in our Annual Work Plans and Budget.

          Annual Activity Report

          Discover the progress of our programme by downloading Europe's Rail Annual Activity Reports.

          Annual Accounts

          Have a full overview of Europe's Rail Annual Accounts.

          Functioning of the Europe's Rail JU

          Discover key documentation describing the general functioning of the JU.

          Discover Reference Documents

          Get access to Europe's Rail main reference documents, including Annual Work Plans, Annual Activity Reports, Annual Accounts and other important information.

           

News

The final event of the Shift2Rail funded FR8RAIL IV project was held on 15 June and showcased the project’s achievements that have improved the efficiency, sustainability, and safety of rail freight transportation in Europe. Hosted at the Deutsche Bahn CargoLab, the event brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, distinguished speakers, and industry experts who gathered to celebrate the project’s outstanding outcomes and share valuable insights. Among the project’s numerous accomplishments, several key highlights stood out, cementing its success and leaving a lasting impact on the industry.

 

One of the project’s standout achievements was the development and successful on-track testing of two novel wagon types, the extended market wagon and the core market wagon. These innovative wagon designs, tailored to meet the evolving needs of the rail freight industry, promise improved functionality, including telematics and electrification and enhanced performance, further bolstering the transportation of goods across Europe.

In line with the project’s commitment to advancing maintenance practices, FR8RAIL IV introduced cutting-edge condition-based maintenance concepts. These concepts were effectively implemented on diesel particle filters at diesel locomotives, showcasing the project’s capacity to revolutionise maintenance strategies in the rail freight sector. By optimising maintenance activities through proactive monitoring, the project has paved the way for improved operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Furthermore, FR8RAIL IV demonstrated the integration of artificial intelligence in rail freight operations by deploying intelligent video gates capable of performing brake pad diagnosis on freight wagons. This application of AI technology enables swift and accurate detection of brake pad conditions, ensuring optimal safety standards and reducing maintenance-related downtime.

Addressing another critical aspect of rail freight transportation, the project successfully showcased functional automatic coupler solutions. These solutions represent a significant step forward in enhancing the efficiency and reliability of freight wagon connections, simplifying the coupling and decoupling process while minimising downtime and improving overall operational performance.

The project coordinators expressed their gratitude to the dedicated teams, project partners, and stakeholders whose collective efforts were instrumental in achieving these milestones. They emphasized that these accomplishments serve as a foundation for further advancements and collaborations within the industry, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and sustainable rail freight transportation in Europe.

Arne Henning, FR8RAIL IV Coordinator, said: “We are delighted with the overwhelming response and enthusiasm shown by all the attendees. The final event of FR8RAIL IV has been a platform for fostering collaboration, exchanging ideas, and disseminating best practices. We are immensely proud of the contributions made by our project partners, stakeholders, and the wider rail freight community.”

Looking towards the future, the accomplishments of FR8RAIL IV will serve as a springboard for further advancements in the efficiency, sustainability, and safety of rail freight transportation in Europe. The event showcased the positive impact of collaborative efforts, research initiatives, and innovative practices, reinforcing the importance of ongoing partnerships within the industry.

For more information about the FR8RAIL IV project and its outcomes, please visit the project’s website and stay tuned for updates on future endeavors in the rail freight industry.

Europe's Rail