Why the EU supports research and innovation in rail transport
Rail transport is fundamental for achieving sustainable low-carbon mobility in Europe, but rail faces critical challenges. Rail needs to shoulder a large share of future transport demand while at the same time coping with dwindling public funding. Research is focusing on
passenger rail - developing innovative products and services that make passengers want to choose rail travel over other less sustainable modes of transport
freight transport by rail - optimising logistic chains that use more than one mode of transport and better rail infrastructure to make transporting freight by rail more attractive
Funding opportunities
Horizon Europe
On this page you can find more information, the work programme and a link to the environment-related calls
COST actions
COST (European cooperation in science and technology) is a funding organisation for research and innovation networks
Connecting Europe Facility - transport
CEF Transport co-finances projects that enhance multimodality, improve infrastructure and advance innovation and new technologies.
Projects and results
TRIMIS projects database
Specialised collection of projects at European, national and international levels.
Research project database (CORDIS)
The Commission's primary portal for results of EU-funded rail transport research projects.
Project success stories
Stories of particularly successful EU-funded rail research projects.
Horizon Magazine
Latest news, interviews and features about thought-provoking science and innovative research projects funded by the EU.
Horizon Results Platform
Platform where framework programme participants present their results for you to search, contact their owners, and form partnerships.
Collaboration and jobs
Find project partners
Find partners for open EU calls for proposal
Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking
JU bringing together industry, SMEs and research centres, to create a Single European Railway Area and deliver more competitive and resource-efficient European rail.
European Rail Research Advisory Council (ERRAC)
European Technology Platform giving rail stakeholders the opportunity evolve the sector and make it more competitive, by fostering increased innovation and guiding research efforts at European level.
POLIS network
Network for local and regional authorities to work together to promote sustainable mobility by deploying innovative transport solutions.
Jobs (EURAXESS)
Researcher jobs in related fields
Scientific publications, tools and databases
TRIMIS Dashboard
Dashboard where you can search for data on beneficiaries of H2020 funding for smart mobility and services
Scientific publications
Scientific publications produced by the European Commission (JRC)
Scientific research tools and databases
The Commission's Joint Research Centre compiles databases and develops software and modelling tools. You can access transport related ones here.
EU publications portal
Online library of EU rail transport research publications
OpenAIRE
You can access all scientific publications from Horizon 2020 via OpenAIRE
EU Open Data Portal
Single point of access to open data produced by the EU institutions - all data free to use for commercial and non-commercial purposes