Innovation for regional rail services and new guided transport systems

Overview

Funding for the development of lightweight, cost-efficient regional rail vehicles and automated multi-modal mobility systems ("moving infrastructures") to enhance sustainable and passenger-centric transport solutions in regional and suburban areas. Targets consortia advancing virtual and physical demonstrators for rail innovation, including modular vehicle designs and pod-based transport systems.

Who Can Apply

Consortia comprising private entities (as defined in Article 2(5) of Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085) and other eligible organizations from EU Member States or associated countries. Applicants must include members of the EU-Rail Joint Undertaking (JU), who are required to provide in-kind contributions totaling at least 1.263 times the funding request.

Funding Details

• Maximum grant amount: €3,100,000
• Total indicative budget: €3.1 million
• Funding form: Lump sum
• Project duration: Indicative 42 months (flexible)

What Is Funded

1. Lightweight regional rail vehicles: - Virtual concept designs for modular vehicles (G1 and G2 lines) with cost-effective, sustainable materials (e.g., fiber-reinforced polymers, multi-material designs). - Development and validation of key components (car body, running gear, powertrain) at TRL 4–5, including destructive testing and dynamic performance validation. - Powertrain solutions (e.g., battery electric with range extenders, hydrogen systems) optimized for energy efficiency and infrastructure constraints. - Demonstration of CAPEX/OPEX reductions (target: 50%) and weight reductions (up to 60% for specific components).

2. Automated Multi-Modal Mobility-System ("pods"): - Specification and interface definition for carriers (rail, road, ropeway) and transport units (TRL 3–4). - Safety studies, lightweight design validation, and intermodal structural assessments. - Mobility Management System development, including digital maintenance planning and operational flow analysis for intermodal integration. - PESTLE analysis, business case studies, and environmental impact assessments for pod systems.

Technology / Maturity Requirements

• TRL range: Activities must achieve a minimum of TRL 4–6 by project end, depending on the enabler.

- Workstream 1 (Rolling Stock): TRL 4–5 for virtual designs and component validation; TRL 6 for specific running gear demonstrations. - Workstream 2 (Pods): TRL 3–4 for system design and simulations; TRL 5 for handling system validation.

Key Dates

• Open date: 2026-02-03
• Deadline: 2026-05-06T22:00:00Z

Application Process (High-Level)

• Single-stage submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal.
• Page limit: 70 pages for full Research and Innovation Action applications.
• Evaluation criteria: Standard Horizon Europe criteria (excellence, impact, implementation) with additional EU-Rail-specific conditions.

Post-Award Obligations

• Reporting: Annual deliverables on in-kind contributions, KPIs, and project progress.
• Dissemination: Compliance with EU-Rail Communication and Dissemination Guidelines, including alignment with Europe’s Rail objectives.
• Standardization: Mandatory reporting on contributions to European/international standards (up to 4 years post-project).
• Data compliance: Adherence to EU Data Policy 2020 and associated regulations (e.g., Open Data Directive, Data Governance Act).

Geographic Scope & Language

• Eligible countries: EU Member States and associated countries (see Annex B of Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes).
• Language: English.

Notes

• Consortium requirements: Must include EU-Rail JU private members with justified in-kind contributions.
• Complementarity: Projects must align with EU-Rail’s System Pillar and linked actions (e.g., FP6-FutuRe, Pods4Rail).
• Exclusions: Gender dimension integration is not mandatory. Proposals must demonstrate European geographical representation and expertise.