DIGITAL AUTOMATIC COUPLER

Closed

Programme Category

EU Competitive Programmes

Programme Name

Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking

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.

Programme Details

Identifier Code

HORIZON-ER-JU-2024-FA5

Call

DIGITAL AUTOMATIC COUPLER

Summary

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).

Detailed Call Description

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.

The Flagship Project work should contribute to specifically provide:

  • the execution of derailment tests, crash tests and climate chamber tests with DAC interface A
  • test results for the DAC authorisation and standardisation activities within TSI and RID requirements and potentially also other requirements depending where the successive pre-deployment pilot tests will take place under authorisation from the related NSAs.

In relation to the above, the action to be funded under this topic is expected to provide:

Derailment and propelling safety (TRL 6):

  • providing the necessary test results of tests on running safety (safety against derailment) and tolerable longitudinal compressive forces with the DAC interface A (derailment tests). By doing so, running safety of freight wagons equipped with DAC interface A can be proven and TSI requirements for authorisation fulfilled,
  • validating the limit value of compressive forces for DAC interface A of each coupler supplier, based on a specified reference wagon composition as well as for interoperable usage,
  • with running safety validation assessment tool for propelled tests managed under the requirements of international standards and norms,
  • providing input to the EU-Rail System Pillar, in the Standardisation and TSI input plan (at least once in Q4 for each calendar year), and to the ERA as needed for the upcoming TSI revision package with regards to DAC.
  • Testing requirements and assets to be considered:
    • locomotives to perform compressive forces (minimum of 500 kN)
    • three (3) different wagon types as test specimen
    • barrier wagons
    • twenty (20) DAC interface A and spare parts
    • measuring equipment

Crash tests considering (TRL 6/7):

  • validated figures for DAC interface A couplers according to the crash test requirements based on the requirements of EN 15227 and RID,
  • provision of input to the EU-Rail System Pillar, in the Standardisation and TSI input plan (at least once in Q4 for each calendar year), and to the ERA as needed for the upcoming TSI revision package with regards to DAC.
  • Testing requirements and assets to be considered:
    • ten (10) DAC interface A units
    • measuring equipment

Climate Chamber Tests (TRL 6/7):

  • providing validation of DAC interface A couplers in harsh environment, esp. ice and snow based on T1 standard (-25°C / +40°C) fulfilling the requirements for authorisation
  • Testing requirements and assets to be considered:
    • three (3) different wagon types as test specimen
    • four (4) DAC interface A coupler per DAC supplier. Those units could be reused from the ones used on the measuring equipment.

Workstream 2: Mix and match tests – initial tests to prove interchangeability of DAC interface A coupler head/shank and draft gear across DAC suppliers.

The R&I work should provide the first results for interchangeable DAC interface A couplers for the handling, the transmission of forces and the behaviour for defined operational test cases.

Based on the test results, a comprehensive test specification should be defined for a fully developed mix and match test aiming for the interchangeability of interface A in DAC couplers.

The action to be funded under this topic is expected to:

  • manage tests to ensure the interchangeability across all project-involved DAC suppliers,
  • provide bench tests to measure the force transmission at different coupling angles and perform operational tests (TRL 7) on defined test cases from FP5-TRANS4M-R.
  • Testing requirements and assets to be considered:
    • rail infrastructure: straight, curve and S-shape tracks
    • three (3) different wagon types
    • one locomotive
    • six (6) DAC interface A couplers per DAC supplier
    • measuring equipment

Workstream 3: Hybrid coupler for mainline and shunting locomotives, technical analysis and development of fitting solutions.

The Flagship Project stemming from this innovation action topic should first identify the most suitable locomotive types (mainline and shunter locomotives) for the technical integration of power supply and communication systems.

The action to be funded under this topic is expected to deliver:

  • the evaluation and assessment of existing technical documentation of the locomotive types considered.
  • the analysis of technical boundaries:
    • Technical solutions for full system integration of hybrid couplers/ power supply system.
  • the evaluation and assessment of potential technical solution for the integration of power supply and communication systems within the locomotive types considered.
  • a roadmap for technical integration within the planned timeframe to allow the preparation of test runs (TRL 7) (based on the FP5- TRANS4M-R test specifications for DAC hybrid coupler and which would be made available to the Project stemming out of this call by the time of its start), support of trials and document/assessment of the results.
  • Testing requirements and assets to be considered:
    • minimum eight (8) hybrid couplers,
    • pre-deployments trains considering a mixture of mainline and shunting locomotives.

Workstream 4: Wagon Onboard Unit (WoBu).

The activities within this workstream should contribute to:

  • The provision of wagon onboard unit prototypes for FP5-TRANS4M-R.

Different suppliers will have to be involved and to deliver the needed number of WoU. The wagon onboard unit prototypes can be provided by different companies if compliance to the requirements is reached. These units should be conceived according to the applicable Full Digital Freight Train requirements of FP5-TRANS4M-R, which would be made available to the Project stemming out of this call by the time of its start, and should already have demonstrated an adequate level of interoperability on the reference test system in a relevant environment. The project should perform demonstrations in operational environments (TRL 7). It must be foreseen that the number of WoUs provided and supporting the EDDP train functions would amount to minimum thirty (30) units. These units should be conceived according to the applicable Full Digital Freight Train requirements.

Call Total Budget

€5.900.000

Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan

The funding rate of the action is 60% of the eligible costs to achieve the leverage effect established in the SBA.

Each Consortia may decide internally different funding rates in line with the provisions of Article 34 of Horizon Europe nevertheless complying with the overall funding rate of 60%.

The granting authority can fund a maximum of one project.

 

Thematic Categories

  • Education and training
  • New Entrepreneurship
  • Public Administration
  • Research, Technological Development and Innovation
  • Small-Medium Enterprises and Competitiveness
  • Transport

Eligibility for Participation

  • Educational Institutions
  • Other Beneficiaries
  • Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
  • Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Eligibility For Participation Notes

Applicants should ensure that their proposals and consortium reflect the aggregated expertise to perform the activities and achieve the objectives set by the topic.

The applicants are expected to gather the necessary technical expertise from Operators, Infrastructure Managers, DAC Suppliers, Loco Suppliers, Loco Keepers as well as the capabilities, capacity and proven experience to execute the required test program and to provide the test results. The applicants should also ensure the provision of the required test infrastructure and test assets and the managerial expertise for its execution. Applicants must ensure their capacity to industrialise and respect the normative landscape applicable to electronic / electropneumatic / electromechanical products for passenger and/or freight railway applications.

Complementary expertise from research institutes and academia, could allow:

  • planning, developing, studying, testing and evaluating solutions, systems and demonstrators together with the previous categories of expertise,
  • supporting any possible scientific or methodological issues that may arise during the performance of the action,
  • contributing to other aspects of the innovation cycle, as well as to the procedural aspects for validation, certification, etc.

Complementary expertise from other sectors and parties, with particular attention to SMEs and Start-ups, which may contribute to enhance the actions’ outcome.

Call Opening Date

25/01/2024

Call Closing Date

07/05/2024

EU Contact Point

Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking

EU-RAIL JU Call Helpdeskinfo-call@rail-research.europa.eu.

Please note that the deadline for addressing queries related to EU-RAIL JU call for proposals to the Q&A functional mailbox (info-call@rail-research.europa.eu) is Wednesday 23 April 2024 at 17:00 (Brussels Local Time).