The European Commission adopts Shift2Rail, tripling EU-funding for rail research and innovation

The European Commission published today the proposal for a Council regulation establishing the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking (JU). This key initiative will make rail transport more attractive to millions of European passengers and freight users and boost the competitiveness of the most sustainable transport mode. In doing so, the R&D outputs of Shift2Rail will help solve the societal transport challenges outlined in Horizon2020 and realise the key objectives of the Commission’s 2011 White Paper on Transport.

Shift2Rail will encompass research, innovation and demonstration activities in all aspects of the rail system, amounting to nearly €1 Billion, co-financed by the EU and the private sector under the Horizon2020 budget across the 7 year lifespan of the initiative.

Shift2Rail is an unprecedented joint effort by the European rail sector and the European Union to create a step change in rail technology in order to meet three major targets: enhancing the capacity of the European rail system to cope with increased user demand, increasing the reliability and quality of rail services, and significantly reducing the life cycle cost of the overall system.

Please click here to read the Commission’s Press Release on Shift2Rail and here to view the Commission’s legislative proposal and all other relevant information.

Further information on the initiative can also be found on the initiative’s website www.shift2rail.org

Download the press release as PDF