REGIONAL RAIL SERVICES / INNOVATIVE RAIL SERVICES TO REVITALISE CAPILLARY LINES

Code: 38530 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-FA6-01 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 30/10/2025 | End submission calls: 11/02/2026

The Flagship Project stemming from this topic shall develop under the following capabilities the enablers and any other which may contribute to deliver the afore-mentioned expected outcome:

• CCS & Operations
• Asset
• Customer service
• Assets Demonstration
• Suitable customer services

SUSTAINABLE COMPETITIVE DIGITAL GREEN RAIL FREIGHT SERVICES

Code: 38527 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-FA5-01 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 30/10/2025 | End submission calls: 11/02/2026

The Flagship Project stemming from this topic should develop the following capabilities:

• Capabilities for improving European full digital freight train operations
• Capabilities for increasing automation in shunting operations
• Capabilities for DAC based wagon concepts incl. multi-modal transport applications
• Capabilities for Seamless Freight Corridor
• Capabilities for Seamless Freight Multimodal and Customer

A SUSTAINABLE AND GREEN RAIL SYSTEM

Code: 38524 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-FA4-01 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 30/10/2025 | End submission calls: 11/02/2026

The Flagship Project stemming from this topic should develop the following capabilities:

• Alternative energy solutions for the rolling stock
• Holistic approach to energy management in the railway system
• Sustainability and resilience of the rail system to deliver added value on asset management
• Improvement of electro-mechanical components and sub-systems for the rolling stock
• Healthier and safer rail system
• Attractiveness

INTELLIGENT & INTEGRATED ASSET MANAGEMENT

Code: 38521 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-FA3-01 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 30/10/2025 | End submission calls: 11/02/2026

The Flagship Project stemming from this topic shall develop under the following capabilities the enablers and any other which may contribute to deliver the aforementioned expected outcome with the associated maturity level foreseen (up to – depending of the Use Case):

• Capability for Information sharing across the supply chain and TMS
• Capability for Unmanned and non-invasive monitoring and inspections
• Capability for Advanced and holistic asset decisions
• Capability for Advanced and holistic design and certification of assets
• Capability for Remotely controlled, unmanned and metadata-assisted interventions

DIGITAL & AUTOMATIC UP TO AUTOMATED TRAIN OPERATIONS

Code: 38518 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-FA2-01 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 30/10/2025 | End submission calls: 11/02/2026

The solutions to be delivered by this action are expected to cover a wide range of applications for the next generation Automatic Train Control (ATC) technologies, such as passenger trains for high speed, light rail urban lines, suburban lines, freight trains and regional lines including low density lines as well as including application in more complex situations, such as mixed traffic, power supply transitions and ATP transitions (e.g. ETCS to undefined tracks).

NETWORK MANAGEMENT PLANNING AND CONTROL & MOBILITY MANAGEMENT IN A MULTIMODAL ENVIRONMENT AND DIGITAL ENABLERS

Code: 38515 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-FA1-TT-01 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 30/10/2025 | End submission calls: 11/02/2026

Action to be funded under this topic should research, develop, and deliver the following capabilities and/or any other relevant capability to achieve the aforementioned expected outcome, on the basis of the public deliveries of FP1-MOTIONAL (GA: 101101973)^[2]:

WS1

To improve strategic and tactical planning of the rail network developing solutions that enable by 2028:

• Enabler 1: European cross-border scheduling with international train path planning and Improved capacity allocation using rolling planning and TTR [TRL7]
• Enabler 2: Decision support for short term planning [TRL7]
• Enabler 3: Optimization methods for timetabling and railway planning (incl. capacity efficiency and energy saving) [TRL7]
• Enabler 4: Improved rail traffic simulation models for selected Use Cases to forecast punctuality in the network (e.g. simulating proportion primary and secondary delays, simulations drivers vs. ATO over ETCS …). [TRL7]
• Enabler 5: Integration of TMS with a) yard capacity planning and b) station capacity planning [TRL7]
• Enabler 6: New planning and operational processes using feedback loops from ERTMS ATO and C-DAS [TRL7]

Developments on all those enablers should also cover important preparatory works with higher TRL for the future set of demonstration foreseen in the Multi- annual Work programme in view of the evolutions of the solutions.

To increase resilience of a connected ‘real time’ rail network developing solutions that enable by 2028:

• Enabler 7: Real-time connection of rail networks as managed by TMSs and involved actors and Modelling and decision support for cross-border traffic management [TRL7]
• Enabler 8: Integration of TMS with a) yard management system and processes; b) station management system and processes; c) energy management (Electric Traction System); d) real-time crew / rolling stock dispatching [TRL7]
• Enabler 10: Real-time convergence between planning & feedback loop from operations [TRL6]
• Enabler 11: Cooperative planning multi-actors within rail [TRL6]
• Enabler 12: Integration of incident management and customer information, with IM and RU interaction and Decision Support for Disruption management [TRL7]
• Enabler 13: TMS speed regulation of trains, precise routes and target times for ATO and dynamic timetables [TRL7]
• Enabler 14: Automation of very short term train control decisions and Real-time conflict detection & resolution for main line and optimisation [TRL7]

Developments on all those enablers should also cover important preparatory works with higher TRL for the future set of demonstration foreseen in the Multi- annual Work programme in view of the evolutions of the solutions.

To integrate rail traffic within door-to-door mobility developing solutions that enable by 2028:

• Enabler 15: Improved rail integration using B2B intermodal services leveraging existing European standards: cross-operator information sharing on e.g. sales and distribution, traffic information, end-user experience, … [TRL8]
• Enabler 16: This enabler focuses on delivering a smooth, hands-free, and accessible journey for all passengers by integrating smart, user-centric services across the rail network and with other modes of transport. It aims to enhance comfort, autonomy, and inclusivity throughout the entire travel chain. [TRL7]
• Enabler 18: Innovative platform-based passenger guidance solution, measurement and guidance of customer flows to and on the platform [TRL7]
• Enabler 19: Short term demand forecast calculation using run time data (e.g. ticketing data, short term weather forecast, passenger density, ….) [TRL8]
• Enabler 20: Long term demand forecast with focus on data analytics based on a variety of sources (e.g., public events, holiday calendar) and operators’ data (e.g., fare, passenger density data) and historical information for predictive models related to passenger clustering [TRL7]
• Enabler 21: Integrated traffic simulation and demand forecast in a Digital Twin to optimize offer, passenger occupancy, connection time and other service-related elements [TRL7]
• Enabler 22: Disruption management across different mobility modes enabling operators to collaboratively solve the disruption and properly inform passengers [TRL8]

Developments on all those enablers should also cover important preparatory works with higher TRL for the future set of demonstration foreseen in the Multi- annual Work programme in view of the evolutions of the solutions.

WS2

Connectors for Federated Data Spaces, TRL7 by 2028

A need for federated data spaces to make all heterogeneous data available to specialized digital applications in multiple domains while a) allowing incremental extensions and avoiding the rigidity of synchronized and centralized deployment timelines and b) providing data owners with the ability to retain control of their assets.

A federated data space is a distributed secure and reliable data sharing and communication infrastructure enabling data federation, access and processing services through standardized interfaces. Incremental extensions of the federated data space are achieved by new devices and systems using the exposed services to add themselves to the federation as they become available, while data asset protection by their owners is achieved by each participant implementing their own data access policies at the interface between their system and the federated dataspace. Connectors using these interfaces must be developed for existing or legacy/proprietary systems to participate in the federation. The sequence of successive federations must take into account the dependencies identified in Annex B between Destinations.

Common Domain Ontology, building upon S2R works on Conceptual Data Model (CDM) and ERA Ontology, TRL 7 by 2028

For Research & innovation and demonstrations activities (within the action) making use of data models related to the interoperability or safety of the rail system, those data models should be aligned with the ERA Ontology^[4]. This ontology defines the conceptual framework and the specific terms and relationships for the interoperability or safety of the rail system in the EU that shall be used or where relevant extended. This includes the reuse of the ERA ontology with its semantic artifacts (shacl rules, skos ..) and in cases where it is not sufficient, extensions should be proposed to maintain semantic consistency and interoperability across systems. Those extensions proposals should cover the processes to validate extension to the ERA Ontology with compliant datasets and related competency questions and linked SPARQL queries based on interoperability testbed validation tools (Interoperability Test Bed Guides — ITB Guides^[5]). Corresponding documentation should also include any mappings or transformations considered in the Research & Innovation activities and any assumptions made.

High quality data and its accessibility is key to the success of the next generation of railway application and services. Therefore, data does not only need to be of high semantic quality, but also has to be specified by a standardized high-quality syntax.

Digital Twin support, development and execution environment, TRL6 by 2028

As a virtual representation able to imitate the behaviour of a physical system, a Digital Twin is a software implementation of a structural and behavioural model of the represented system. A development environment for Digital Twins shall be composed of standard modelling tools, editors, compilers and debuggers used by specialists to create self-contained, compiled functional mock-up units (FMUs). Searchable libraries of FMUs are also part of the Digital Twin development environment, used to implement higher level FMUs as compositions of submodels through standardized interfaces.

Compiled FMUs are deployed to an interoperable Digital Twin execution environment in which models are initialized with data obtained from the federated dataspace through the dataspace services, and simulations runs are performed to generate the projected behaviour of the imitated physical system.

Cybersecurity, TRL 6 by 2028

Demonstrate Shared Cybersecurity Services for the Rail System allowing stakeholders in all EU-RAIL Destinations to apply Cybersecurity applications to secure their digital assets, data and communication. Added to the Digital Assets and Engineering toolbox and shareable as a service in a cloud environment, the Shared Cybersecurity Services will provide state-of-the-art cybersecurity procedures, methods and applications.

• Coordination with EU-RAIL System Pillar and other Destinations:
  • Align with EU-RAIL System Pillar Cybersecurity specification
  • Feedback to EU-RAIL System Pillar from demonstrator findings (after demonstration)
  • Coordination with relevant other Destinations (presentation, feasibility check, collecting conditions and requirements for use of Shared Cybersecurity Services).
• Creation and set up of the Shared Cybersecurity Services (SCS) demonstrator (TRL 6):
  • Setting up the Shared Cybersecurity Services demonstrator in a cloud environment such as the Rail Data Space based on the EU-RAIL System Pillar Cybersecurity specifications.
  • Testing and demonstrating the SCS demonstrator in combination with data connectors and/or digital twin supplementing with additional applicable standards.
  • Test interfaces, interoperability and operational procedures of the Shared Cybersecurity Services with selected and interested Destinations.

SUPPORT TO THE EUROPEAN FRMCS DEPLOYMENT GROUP

Code: 38513 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-EXPLR-04 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 30/10/2025 | End submission calls: 11/02/2026

The coordination and supporting actions of the project stemming from this topic shall deliver the following:

1. Programme Management Office (PMO) Functions
   • Set up and operate a central coordination function to oversee timelines, dependencies, and progress across planning of FRMCS future deployment activities.
2. Capacity Mapping & Planning Analysis
   • Develop and distribute sector-wide surveys (by sending out questionnaires) to gather data on deployment plans, readiness, and capacity. Analyse responses and identify gaps and challenges across Member States and cross-border situations.
3. Independent Cost and Time Driver Study
   • Conduct a study to assess cost structures and investment drivers relevant to FRMCS implementation across different operational contexts (in particular on-board assets).
   • Conduct relevant Cost Business Analyses.. Analyse main factors that determine the required rollout timeline and measures to optimise those.
4. Stakeholder Management
   • Facilitate cooperation among rail and telecom stakeholders, as well as with relevant associations.
5. Communication & Dissemination
   • Support targeted communications for the FRMCS Deployment Group and Organise outreach and engagement with the broader sector to raise awareness and share developments.
6. Deployment Guidelines Toolbox
   • Support the development a non-binding set of practical guidelines and migration scenarios to support railway undertakings and infrastructure managers in their transition to FRMCS.
7. Expertise & Technical Support
   • Provide subject-matter expertise on key domains including, but not exclusive: System authorisation, Cybersecurity, RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety)
8. European Deployment Dashboard
   • Support the establishment and maintenance an online dashboard to: Report on deployment readiness and progress and rack national initiatives and alignment with European goals
9. Knowledge Sharing and Acceleration
   • Gather and share test results, best practices, and lessons learned and promote early implementation and innovation in FRMCS assets.
10. Risk & Deviation Management
    • Support the development of frameworks for identifying, reporting, and mitigating risks and deviations across the deployment chain.
11. Develop market readiness
    • Support the identification of measures needed to be address by the market for ensure a swift FRMCS deployment. This activity should be framed in the context of the anticipated short time frame to conduct the migration from GSM-R to FRMCS that may lead to a high demand on scarce resources in different fields.

EXTENDING THE RAIL NETWORK OF PHDS

Code: 38509 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-EXPLR-03 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 30/10/2025 | End submission calls: 11/02/2026

In order to achieve the expected outcomes described above, proposals shall consist of the creation of at least 3 – 5 PhDs positions. It is expected that the PhD programmes stemming from this topic will have the possibility to interact with the Funding Members of the Europe’s Rail JU.

The PhD researchers are expected regularly to liaise with the Europe’s Rail JU and to present their research findings to the Europe’s Rail JU events and submit scientific papers to relevant conferences (e.g. TRA, WCRR, etc. but also non-rail related).

STUDIES ON INNOVATION IN CLIMATE FINANCE FOR RAIL

Code: 38506 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-EXPLR-02 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 30/10/2025 | End submission calls: 11/02/2026

The study should aim to provide actionable recommendations to help railways to access the growing pool of climate finance to support their transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient transport system , and can include the following:

• Conducting a comprehensive review of existing green financing instruments and their applicability to the rail sector, identifying key barriers and opportunities for increased uptake.
• Analysing the investment criteria and processes, and identifying strategies for an increased utilization of carbon credits by rail companies, as means to offset emissions, generate revenue, etc. This includes the investigation of innovative approaches to aggregate and scale up smaller rail initiatives, to meet minimum investment thresholds for climate finance. Explore the possibility of innovative financing structures as well that blend public, private and climate-specific funding sources to maximize investment in low-carbon rail infrastructure and operations. The study shall provide actionable and data-driven recommendations for the rail industry, to assist them in their decision making towards identification and implementation of decarbonization strategies capturing sustainable finance opportunities.
• Providing guidelines/recommendations for harmonising processes for monitoring, reporting and evaluation across European rail companies of accurate gas emissions measurements. The aim of these is to enable the progress towards achieving the decarbonization goals, while providing clear, easy to follow instructions regarding: regulatory requirements; access to financing channels; integration of climate-related considerations into corporate strategy and operations.
• Investigating the contribution and opportunities of climate finance instruments in enabling the transition towards rail passenger and freight transport from other less green transport modes, as a key step in achieving the EU green deal objectives. Provide recommendation for bridging the gaps in terms of policies, regulations, and incentives fostering the investments and use of low-carbon transport modes and in particular for rail fostering the market take-up of novel technologies and solutions into the existing European rail network and systems.

Gender dimension

In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.

STUDIES ON RAIL INDUSTRY 5.0

Code: 38503 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-EXPLR-01 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 30/10/2025 | End submission calls: 11/02/2026

European Commission’s Industry 5.0 Award provides a vision of the future of European industry taking into consideration the achievement of ‘societal goals beyond jobs and growth. Industry 5.0 is seen “as transition to a sustainable, people-centric and resilient European industry”^[1].

The expected outcome of this Research and Innovation Action is a study that identifies the key challenges, drivers, and expected measurable outcomes/benefits related to the application of the new concepts introduced by the 5.0 Industry principles to the rail sector.

The study shall provide recommendations for the implementation of Industry 5.0 vision that will lead to a significant improvement of safety, reliability, and efficiency in rail operations.

Further Technological development of Maglev-derived Systems

Code: 36080 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-ER-JU-2025-FA7-01 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 26/02/2025 | End submission calls: 07/05/2025

This topic seeks to enhance the existing railway system by exploring the integration of maglev-derived technologies into existing railway infrastructures to reinforce railways as the backbone of the trans-European multimodal transport network by increasing its capacity and performances. The technical approach to be developed could support the enrichment of the railway system through the integration of maglev-based solution into the existing infrastructure following a principle of overlapping technological layers. This integration aims to implement technological, functional and performance upgrades to existing lines and to ensure interoperability of vehicles with both the magnetic and traditional infrastructure by preserving the flow of traditional trains on the existing railway corridor.

EU-RAIL – SNS SYNERGY: DIGITAL & AUTOMATED TESTING AND OPERATIONAL VALIDATION OF THE NEXT EU RAIL COMMUNICATION SNS

Code: 32415 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-ER-JU-2024-FA2-SNS | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 25/01/2024 | End submission calls: 07/05/2024

To successfully address the expected outcomes, the action to be funded under this topic should research, develop, and deliver all the following capabilities:

Workstream 1: Development of a future proof telecom architecture including all necessary network elements (TRL7).
Workstream 2: Testing of key functions (TRL 7).
Workstream 3: Validation and return on experience.

DIGITAL AUTOMATIC COUPLER

Code: 32413 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-ER-JU-2024-FA5 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 25/01/2024 | End submission calls: 07/05/2024

To successfully address the expected outcomes, the Flagship Project stemming from this innovation action topic should research, develop, and deliver all the following capabilities and/or any other relevant capability within the following workstreams:

Workstream 1: DAC Interface A derailment and propelling safety tests, crash tests, climate chamber tests and initial tests to prove interchangeability of DAC coupler head/shank and draft gear across DAC solutions.
Workstream 2: Mix and match tests – initial tests to prove interchangeability of DAC interface A coupler head/shank and draft gear across DAC suppliers.
Workstream 3: Hybrid coupler for mainline and shunting locomotives, technical analysis and development of fitting solutions.
Workstream 4: Wagon Onboard Unit (WoBu).

HYPERLOOP – ROADMAP TOWARDS INDUSTRIALISATION AND HARMONIZED IMPLEMENTABLE CONCEPT

Code: 32411 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-ER-JU-2024-FA7 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 25/01/2024 | End submission calls: 07/05/2024

To successfully address the expected outcomes, the action to be funded under this topic should research, develop, and deliver upon all following research activities:

Work-stream 1: Technical harmonisation, roadmaps on industrialisation and applicability
Work-stream 2: Design concept and validation of key sub-systems

DAC FLEET RETROFITTING AND RETROFIT CAPACITY PLAN

Code: 31197 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-ER-JU-2023-EXPLR-06 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 04/10/2023 | End submission calls: 07/02/2024

The 2023 Call for Proposals is structured around 6 topics under Destination 8.
Destination 8: Exploratory Research and other activities. EU-Rail promote forward looking activities, tackling disruptive technologies and thinking, performing exploratory research to accelerate the pace towards radical system innovations in the guided transport modes and supporting the evolution of the Innovation Programme in scope and targets.

The coordinated support action support the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking with the needed technical expertise for the development of the above mentioned plans.

The following areas have been identified as key research area to cover the expected outcome.

The project stemming from this topic shall address all the following workstreams:

• Workstream 1: Fleet retrofitting readiness
• Workstream 2: DAC Retrofitting capacity plan

EXTENDING THE RAIL NETWORK OF PHDS

Code: 31194 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-ER-JU-2023-EXPLR-05 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 04/10/2023 | End submission calls: 07/02/2024

The 2023 Call for Proposals is structured around 6 topics under Destination 8.
Destination 8: Exploratory Research and other activities. EU-Rail promote forward looking activities, tackling disruptive technologies and thinking, performing exploratory research to accelerate the pace towards radical system innovations in the guided transport modes and supporting the evolution of the Innovation Programme in scope and targets.

The PhD researchers are expected regularly to liaise with the Europe’s Rail JU and to present their research findings to the Europe’s Rail JU events and submit scientific papers to relevant conferences (e.g. TRA, WCRR, etc. but also non-rail related).
It is expected that the PhD programmes stemming from this topic will have the possibility to interact with the Funding Members of the Europe’s Rail JU.
The Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking expects to finance successful proposals from universities or similar high-level institutes covering each at least one PhD student in the following proposed areas or additional or different scientific areas to be proposed, always in relation to the EU-Rail Programme:

• PhD Topic – Measures and mechanisms to support implementation of rail technical innovations supporting the decarbonisation of transport
• PhD Topic – Change Making for Gender Equality in Rail
• PhD Topic – Education and training in rail
• PhD Topic – Rail enabled urban logistics
• PhD Topic – Fast Night Train Operations

DISRUPTIVE ASSETS MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING URBAN USE CASES

Code: 31192 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-ER-JU-2023-EXPLR-04 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 04/10/2023 | End submission calls: 07/02/2024

The 2023 Call for Proposals is structured around 6 topics under Destination 8.
Destination 8: Exploratory Research and other activities. EU-Rail promote forward looking activities, tackling disruptive technologies and thinking, performing exploratory research to accelerate the pace towards radical system innovations in the guided transport modes and supporting the evolution of the Innovation Programme in scope and targets.

Rail asset management is a key area to enhance via research and innovation, especially as more rail services will be needed to solve existing challenges and meet societal demands, following EU guidelines such as the Green Deal. The objective of the project is to enhance the capability for monitoring/inspection solutions evolving towards non-invasive and self-diagnostic systems with no or minimal service disruptions and/or remotely controlled interventions, through the usage of innovative/disruptive technologies concerning data acquisition, data analysis and maintenance decision making.

BIODIVERSITY

Code: 31190 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-ER-JU-2023-EXPLR-03 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 04/10/2023 | End submission calls: 07/02/2024

The 2023 Call for Proposals is structured around 6 topics under Destination 8.
Destination 8: Exploratory Research and other activities. EU-Rail promote forward looking activities, tackling disruptive technologies and thinking, performing exploratory research to accelerate the pace towards radical system innovations in the guided transport modes and supporting the evolution of the Innovation Programme in scope and targets.

Considering the current state of the art regarding automation in the metro system, the action to be funded under this topic shall deliver R&I which first step is to determine requirements and needs for future different type of metro users, while also taking into consideration the resilience to external challenges/future threats (climate threats, sanitary, terrorism, etc.) aiming at making metro systems future proof.

The Project stemming from this topic should aim to identify and initially exploit key areas of innovation of the future metro system. The initiative shall identify new requirements, develop new concepts, and implement early stages of development of the solutions based on new emerging technologies (automation and digitalization, AI, telecom, etc.).
The final objective is to increase efficiency, sustainability, attractiveness, and resilience against current state of the art. Making the system future metro systems answering the needs of an evolving society with the metro as the backbone of urban mobility.

FUTURE METRO SYSTEMS

Code: 31188 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-ER-JU-2023-EXPLR-02 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 04/10/2023 | End submission calls: 07/02/2024

The 2023 Call for Proposals is structured around 6 topics under Destination 8.
Destination 8: Exploratory Research and other activities. EU-Rail promote forward looking activities, tackling disruptive technologies and thinking, performing exploratory research to accelerate the pace towards radical system innovations in the guided transport modes and supporting the evolution of the Innovation Programme in scope and targets.

Considering the current state of the art regarding automation in the metro system, the action to be funded under this topic shall deliver R&I which first step is to determine requirements and needs for future different type of metro users, while also taking into consideration the resilience to external challenges/future threats (climate threats, sanitary, terrorism, etc.) aiming at making metro systems future proof.

The Project stemming from this topic should aim to identify and initially exploit key areas of innovation of the future metro system. The initiative shall identify new requirements, develop new concepts, and implement early stages of development of the solutions based on new emerging technologies (automation and digitalization, AI, telecom, etc.).
The final objective is to increase efficiency, sustainability, attractiveness, and resilience against current state of the art. Making the system future metro systems answering the needs of an evolving society with the metro as the backbone of urban mobility.

NOISE AND VIBRATIONS

Code: 31186 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-ER-JU-2023-EXPLR-01 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 04/10/2023 | End submission calls: 07/02/2024

The 2023 Call for Proposals is structured around 6 topics under Destination 8.
Destination 8: Exploratory Research and other activities. EU-Rail promote forward looking activities, tackling disruptive technologies and thinking, performing exploratory research to accelerate the pace towards radical system innovations in the guided transport modes and supporting the evolution of the Innovation Programme in scope and targets.

Noise: The main objective of this work area is to improve EU noise mapping and to define relevant limit values that could potentially serve as a basis for upcoming revisions of the Technical Specifications for Interoperability on Noise.

Ground Vibrations: The main objective of this work area is to improve the prediction tools capabilities for holistic ground vibration impact.

EU-RAIL - SESAR SYNERGY: INTEGRATED AIR AND RAIL NETWORK BACKBONE FOR A SUSTAINABLE AND ENERGYEFFICIENT MULTIMODAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM (IA)

Code: 31184 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-ER-JU-2023-FA1-SESAR | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 04/10/2023 | End submission calls: 07/02/2024

The 2023 Call for Proposals is structured around 1 topic under Destination 1, that will generate a first joint project managed together with SESAR 3 JU and its programme. Destination 1 – Network management planning and control & Mobility Management in a multimodal environment and Digital Enablers. The objective is to achieve the Single European Rail Area by researching, developing and delivering a flexible, efficient, resilient and high-capacity European rail network. It also about the implementation of a railway Digital enabler and Digital twin environment, where all digital elements of the system can play together in a coherent and interoperable way.

Aviation and railway are integral parts of the intermodal transport ecosystem expected to optimise door-to-door (D2D) mobility for people, and ultimately to meet citizens’ expectations for increasingly seamless mobility, where they can rely on the predictability of every planned door-to-door journey and can choose how to optimise it (shortest travel time, least cost, minimal environmental impact, etc.).

Standardised offer/contract management for agile access to Rail Freight and multimodal services in EU

Code: 24469 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-ER-JU-2022-ExplR-03 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 13/09/2022 | End submission calls: 14/12/2022

Building a community of scientific research and and enabling a network of PhD (academia teaming with industry)

Code: 24467 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-ER-JU-2022-ExplR-04 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 13/09/2022 | End submission calls: 14/12/2022

With this Research and Innovation Action, the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking intends building a rail research and innovation “community” (cooperation/network/alliance) of scientific research entities (cooperation/network) in order:

• to strengthen, expand and optimise raylway’s research and innovation capabilities through the sharing of world-class national facilities in Europe to contribute to the EU-Rail Programme or other funded multi-national programmes
• to team up with industry for at least 6 -10 PhD positions.

Digitalisation and automation enabling new railway services for passengers and freight

Code: 24456 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-ER-JU-2022-ExplR-05 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 13/09/2022 | End submission calls: 14/12/2022

The introduction of automation (automated functions) in the railway sector to be developed by the EU-RAIL programme and digitalization will bring new opportunities to improve the passenger and freight services.
The project stemming from this topic is expected to identify what are the opportunities for new type of services that could be enabled by these new automated functions and in general the digitalization of the rail system and sub-systems and to consider their business case(s).

Conceptual development of Automated Multi-Modal Mobility-Systems (“Moving Infrastructures”)

Code: 24452 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-ER-JU-2022-FA7-01 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 13/09/2022 | End submission calls: 14/12/2022

The challenge is to develop a rail based fully automated Multi-Modal Mobility-System for passengers and goods with a “Moving Infrastructure” system, which is economically feasible and sustainable. It is expected to be based on an Open Platform of common standards and standardised interfaces with current transport infrastructure solutions and it is expected making use of disruptive operation models, exploiting existing infrastructure.

European value chains for rail supply

Code: 24448 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-ER-JU-2022-ExplR-06 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 13/09/2022 | End submission calls: 14/12/2022

Τhe Project stemming from this topic is expected to contribute fostering a resilient rail supply chain for the implementation of the future needed rail innovations.

Technological development of Maglev-derived Systems

Code: 24445 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-ER-JU-2022-FA7-02 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 13/09/2022 | End submission calls: 14/12/2022

Development of business case(s), considering the needs and requirements of the end customers and the stakeholders involved, and an analysis of the systems and technology needed for maglev-derived technologies implementation (e.g. in term of infrastructure, signalling, communication, etc.), is required. The project stemming from this topic is also expected to identify the advantages and constraints of the new rail-guided system, against the current transport and mobility offer.

Hyperloop Industrial Roadmap and pilots

Code: 24442 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-ER-JU-2022-FA7-03 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 13/09/2022 | End submission calls: 14/12/2022

• Work-stream 1:

Bridge Dynamics

Code: 24440 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-ER-JU-2022-ExplR-02 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 13/09/2022 | End submission calls: 14/12/2022

It is expected that in many of the workflows there will be large amounts of data results as outputs from the train/bridge dynamic calculations. Therefore, the development of optimal methods for easier visualization of these data and also for the effective identification of important behaviors and critical cases is expected.

New railway station concept for green and socially inclusive smart cities

Code: 24437 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-ER-JU-2022-ExplR-01 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 13/09/2022 | End submission calls: 14/12/2022

The work arising from this theme should develop a common methodology for the transformation of existing stations or the design of new ones into socio-technical systems that act as green city engines for the environment and new urban hubs that bring together multiple services for users and the citizens.

DAC Migration Roadmap towards Deployment

Code: 24434 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-ER-JU-2022-ExplR-07 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 13/09/2022 | End submission calls: 14/12/2022

The coordinated support action will operate under the EDDP and support the European Railway Joint Undertaking in the implementation (and preparation for migration) of DAC across Europe with professional skills capable of managing industrial complex projects and successfully achieving the expected results .
High-level migration plans should be rolled out, making use of DAC technical solutions, and develop the necessary preparation for the successful deployment of DAC with a dedicated migration implementation roadmap and plan and related separate actions.

Scaling up of cells and stacks for large electrolysers

Code: 20783 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022-01-05 | Programme name: Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking | Start submission calls: 31/03/2022 | End submission calls: 20/09/2022

This topic concerns the research and development of much larger cells and stacks for water electrolysers than the current State of the Art (SoA).
Project results are expected to help maintain European leadership in the field of electrolysis and contribute to all of the following objectives of the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA:

• Develop larger area cells/stacks components with adequate manufacturing quality for high power systems;
• Improve cell design for high performance and increase cell/stack robustness;
• Demonstrate that electrolysis technology, when deployed at scale, has the potential to meet cost and performance KPIs;
• Reducing electrolyser CAPEX and OPEX;
• Increasing current density;
• Increasing the scale of deployment