UNIFE launches combined EU rail research and development project meeting

The launch meeting of combined EU rail research and development projects, Roll2Rail, IT2Rail and In2Rail, took place today in Brussels.

The three EU rail research and development projects have been selected by the European Commission following the first “Mobility for Growth” call of the Horizon 2020 Programme. The projects endeavour to launch key research activities that will feed into the Innovation Programmes of the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking. Roll2Rail and IT2Rail will be coordinated by UNIFE, the European Rail Industry Association, while Network Rail, the UK Infrastructure Manager, will coordinate In2Rail.

The launch meeting brought together 200 participants from the rail industry sector involved in the projects and high level representatives from the European Commission. Each of the projects later held individual kick-off meetings throughout in the day.

The regulation establishing the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking was adopted by the Council of the EU in June 2014 with full support of the European Parliament, following five years of investigation and work of key European Rail sector players under the coordination of UNIFE and in cooperation with the European Commission. Such a Joint Undertaking for rail research is of great importance since the European leadership of the global rail market can only be maintained if a critical mass of committed EU industry joins forces to develop innovative, high-capacity, and high-quality products with a long-term vision. The award and official start of these lighthouse projects is the first of many stepping stones along the way to achieving the ambitious EU transport and competitiveness goals of the initiative.

Philippe Citroën, Director General of UNIFE, the European Rail Industry Association, commented: “UNIFE is pleased to be part of these three projects which will carry out the preliminary work of the future core research activities of Shift2Rail—this is a major milestone for our industry which is currently facing immense competition from outside of Europe.”

Alison Smith, Head of Technology & Innovation for Network Rail, added: “The In2Rail project is a key step on the journey to deliver the railway of the future, and for Network Rail, the project presents a significant and hugely exciting opportunity to improve the railway – an opportunity not to be missed by us or the other project partners.”

Keir Fitch, Head of Unit, Research & Innovative Transport Systems at the European Commission’s DG-Move, said: “DG-Move looks forward to a fruitful cooperation on these Shift2Rail lighthouse projects which represent the real start-up of the research and innovation work of Shift2Rail.”