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

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-2022-ExplR-03

Call

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

Summary

The rail sector faces also a major challenge on how to increase freight traffic in such timeframe, delivering a competitive transport service but also reaching out and attracting new potential customers. To support the easy usage of rail freight and multimodal services and a seamless switch towards rail, harmonised or even standardised models transport agreements and contracts are needed. The Project stemming from this topic should address this challenge including analytical models based on today’s EU freight transport market that will help to visually identify by the freight customers the most suitable supply chain flows for rail transport, from both a CO2 and business perspective.

Detailed Call Description

Taking into account the transport models (at regional, national and European levels) that have already been developed and used by private / public authorities for their planning, the areas of R&I, which needs to be addressed to tackle the above-mentioned expected outcomes are:

Mapping the EU Rail Freight Service offering in EU with available nodes and routes ( Rail freight commercial directory ) and develop the IT framework for publication of a web-based map (freely accessible) with possible static updates;
Desk research on the supply chain flows identifying target segments. Definition of KPIs (from both a CO2 and business perspective) to be used for identifying freight flows – to be inserted in the web-mapping – that are best positioned for the use of rail services;
Analysis of the effects of long-term transport contracts on the flexibility of the transport system and conditions needed to allow a short-term shift of freight flows of single loads from one mode to another, taking into account framework contracts but also utilisation guarantees for specific services;
Recommendation for harmonised general terms and conditions for the stakeholders to implement, including an analysis of the main constraints and the potential need adaptation of rules and legislation;
Analysis on upcoming digital and technical innovations that would facilitate the use of rail services.

Call Total Budget

€2,300,000

Thematic Categories

Environment and Climate Change
Other Thematic Category
Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Trade and Commerce
Transport

Eligibility for Participation

Central Government
International Organisations
Private Bodies
Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
Semi-governmental organisations
State-owned Enterprises

Eligibility For Participation Notes

Proposals are expected to promote cooperation between different actors (involving as needed the supply chain starting with the customers, the logistic sector, the rail freight industry, relevant combined transport / inland waterways operators, terminal operators and research institutions) and consider opportunities brought by the integration of rail technological innovation in the supply chain.

Call Opening Date

13/09/2022

Call Closing Date

14/12/2022

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