FP5-TRANS4M-R’s overall goal is to establish rail freight as the backbone of a low-emission, resilient European logistics chain which fulfills end-user requirements to full satisfaction. Two technological clusters, ‘Full Digital Freight Train Operation (FDFTO)’ and ‘Seamless Freight Operation’, will develop, validate and demonstrate FP5-TRANS4M-R technologies, in line with an integrated cross-sector systemic approach. Integrating Digital Automatic Coupler (DAC) enabled solutions with software defined systems and digital rail services will ensure increased capacity, higher throughput and swifter transportation. It will strengthen the cross-border coordination and cooperation between rail infrastructure managers and deliver optimised rail network management. FP5-TRANS4M-R’s seamless, integrated, interoperable, validated and EU-wide authorised solutions aim to achieve a single EU rail freight technology framework with strictly managed interfaces for effective system integration and seamless operation across borders, actors and modes. These objectives provide the foundations, framework and motivation behind the project which will have significant impact on the EU transport and logistics secto