Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail) aims to deliver, via an integrated system approach, a high-capacity, flexible, multimodal, sustainable, reliable and integrated EU railway network for European passengers and cargo.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
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
Detailed Call Description
Workstream 1: Fleet retrofitting readiness
The project should collect and analyse the status of wagons and locomotives in operations in Europe. The processed information should consider the number of wagons and locomotives, the usage, the technical state and its retrofitting ability (fleet retrofitting readiness). The project shall deliver a sound assessment on the retrofitting readiness of wagons and locomotives which will serve as the basis for the strategic sector alignment, in the context of the EDDP, on the future DAC deployment plans. The project shall cover for its assessment the following elements (non-exhaustive list):
- Locomotives difference between shunting and mainline ones and the possibility to have hybrid coupling or DAC only;
- Wagons based on the type of traffic (Core Wagonload System (CWS), intermodal,…);
- TSI compliance and safety level achieved (e.g. inner-coupling for rakes).
Workstream 2: DAC Retrofitting capacity plan
The project should identify the required workshop capacity and locations (in Europe), workforce skills for retrofitting of locomotives, freight wagons and other on track machines, as well as the planned/required retrofitting rolling stock quantities. The outputs of the workstream 1 are an important element to take into account in the analysis.
It should also propose a DAC retrofitting plan considering the optimisation of workshop locations and the major sidings/terminals in Europe (e.g. through predominant traffic type) use, and related vehicle fleets. A gap analysis should be performed and required countermeasures analysed, with the aim to propose alternative technical and operational solutions.
The project should develop a comprehensive retrofitting capacity plan, including concrete operational and technical recommendations (including timing) per traffic type (Block Train, Single Wagon Load,…) and concerned fleet. The plan should include (non-exhaustive list):
- an allocation of vehicles per retrofitting workshops;
- an identification of the rolling stock, timing and retrofitting process per type/vehicle;
- an estimate of the foreseen DAC components quantity required per retrofitting location.
Additionally, the project should propose further recommendation based on the analysis on how mobile workshops could cover (in part) the retrofit needs and their impact on:
- Retrofitting plan on infrastructure (e.g. buffer stop retrofitting plan, changes needed to shunting yards/sidings and planning).
- Requirements for the wagons for operations at shunting yards (e.g. uncoupling button or lever at the side).
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
Expected EU contribution per project: €1 500 000
It is expected that 1 project will be funded under each topic.
Thematic Categories
- Other Services
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
- Transport
Eligibility for Participation
- Central Government
- International Organisations
- Large Enterprises
- Local Authorities
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
The general admissibility and eligibility conditions are described in Annex A, Annex B, and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
For additional information about the eligibility conditions and the special skills and/or capabilities expected from the applicant(s) under each call, please visit the description of the topic of your interest in the Europe’s Rail Work Programme 2023-2024 (the link can be found under the “Further information” section of this email).
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decisions authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) -and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025).
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
EU Contact Point
Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking
Email: communication@rail-research.europa.eu
Address: Avenue de la Toison d’Or 56-60/Gulden-Vlieslaan 56-60, 1060 Brussels, Belgium