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          Discover Innovation pillar

          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.

          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.

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          Discover Deployment Group

          Deployment Group

          The Deployment Group advises the EU-Rail Governing Board on the market uptake of rail innovation developments and support their deployment.

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          Deployment Group Participants

          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.

          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.

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        • 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 the European partnership on rail research and innovation established under the Horizon Europe programme (2020-2027) and the universal successor of the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking.

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          Mission and objectives

          Preparatory Activities

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          Discover Europe's Rail Members

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

          Discover Structure of Governance

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

          Explore Structure of Governance

          Governing Board

          General Assembly

          States Representatives Group

          Scientific Steering Group

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          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.

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          Key Documents

          Annual Work Plan and Budget

          Annual Activity Report

          Annual Accounts

          Functioning of the Europe's Rail JU

Transforming rail freight starts with smart wagon concepts

With the aim of initiating a ‘technological awakening’ for rail freight transport, Europe’s Rail conducted a number of technical demonstrators (TD).

One of those investigated smart freight wagon concepts.

Based on this research, the TD delivered 3 technologies that could help generate the frameworks and functional requirements needed to enable the development of track-friendly, low-weight, low-noise, and high-speed running gear.

Running Gear

TRL: 4 (technology validated in lab)

The running gear technology is comprised of wagon design and wheelset concepts and the evaluation of both acoustics and aerodynamic characteristics.

Key findings

• Using aluminium solutions reduces the weight of an empty wagon, leading to an increase in payload weight (900 kg).
• This feature improves current payload ratio by 13%.
• This payload increase would be also accompanied for by delivering better production costs, improving transport emissions, and decreasing maintenance requirements.

Who benefits

Final users

Railway operators

Suppliers

Core Market Wagon (CMW)

TRL: 7 (system prototype demonstration in an operational environment)

CMW is an effort to design a light and intelligent wagon for transporting goods requiring protection against weather conditions (e.g. powder snow) as well as lighter parts and less rolling noise.

Key findings

• Europe’s first covered wagon with sliding side walls has an increased volume of two square metres.
• Includes several sub-component optimisations that contribute to a greener and more efficient operation.
• The telematics and electrification systems enhance logistics capability and CBM concepts.

Who benefits

Final users

Railway operators

Suppliers

Extended Market Wagon (EMW)

TRL: 6 (technology demonstrated in a relevant environment)

The wagon incorporates many unique features and functions that should help make rail freight more attractive and competitive.

Key findings

• EMW offers a new production model aimed at intermodal rail freight and primarily targets the high value/low volume market.
• EMW offers a 13% increase in payload, a 10% reduction in energy consumption, and is designed to operate at a maximum speed of 140 KPH.
• The wagon is expected to deliver between a 40-50% improvement in the specific cost of transport per unit.

Who benefits

Final users

Railway operators

Suppliers

Europe's Rail