Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking

What Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking does

Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail) is a European public-private partnership established in 2021 by Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 under the Horizon Europe framework programme. Headquartered in Brussels with approximately 60 employees, it is the legal successor to the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking and serves as the central coordinating body for collaborative rail sector research and innovation across the European Union. EU-Rail brings together more than 35 founding members — including OEMs (Alstom, Siemens Mobility, Hitachi Rail, CAF), infrastructure managers and operators (Deutsche Bahn, SNCF), and tier-one suppliers (Knorr-Bremse) — alongside the European Commission and other EU bodies, to align public and private investment in rail R&D. The organization does not generate commercial revenue; it administers EU research funding and member contributions, operating as a programme-management entity rather than a market-facing vendor.

EU-Rail's work is structured around three pillars: the Innovation Pillar (which manages research, development, and demonstration projects), the System Pillar (which delivers unified operational concepts, system architecture, and interface specifications for the European rail system), and the Deployment Group (which channels R&D outputs into operational deployment through Member State deployment groups). Activity is organised into Flagship Areas addressing automation (FP1-MOTIONAL), digital twins and data analytics (FP2-R2DATO), sustainable rail (FP4-Rail4Earth), and competitive freight and passenger transport (FP5-TRANS4M-R). Recent deliverables include the NEXUS project, which provides AI-based demand forecasting, optimization tools, and vehicle condition monitoring to consortium members.

The entity's mandate is bounded in time: Decision 14/2023, as revised by Decision 18/2024, sets out a phasing-out plan that defines the legal dissolution pathway for the current Joint Undertaking at the end of the current Horizon Europe framework period, with the consortium actively positioning to shape a successor structure under the next EU framework programme (post-2027). This dual posture — expanding programme activity while legally preparing for wind-down — is the defining structural feature of EU-Rail as an investable entity.

Name

Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking

Legal name

Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking

Website

https://rail-research.europa.eu

Company type

Public

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail) is a Brussels-based public-private partnership under Horizon Europe, coordinating collaborative rail R&D among 35+ European industry members and EU institutions, with no commercial revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rail Research and Innovation Funding

NAICS

International Affairs (928120), Support Activities for Rail Transportation (48821)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Rail Infrastructure Authorities (Track, Stations, Grade Crossings) (BPAIALAG)

Keywords

• Rail research innovation
• Public-private partnership
• EU funding programmes
• Railway interoperability
• Transport research funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Public-Private Partnership Funding: EU-Rail is funded through a public-private partnership model under Horizon Europe. The European Union provides funding, matched by private members. The partnership provides funding mainly in the form of grants to indirect actions selected through open, transparent and competitive Calls for Proposals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking is a public-private partnership that funds and coordinates European rail research and innovation under the EU's Horizon Europe programme. It allocates grants to project consortia through competitive Calls for Proposals, and delivers operational and technological solutions across seven Flagship Areas via its Innovation Pillar, System Pillar, and Deployment Group governance structure.

Product overview

Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail) is a public-private partnership for European rail research and innovation under the Horizon Europe programme. The organization operates through three core structural pillars: the Innovation Pillar (delivering operational and technological solutions across seven Flagship Areas including automated operations, sustainability, and freight innovation), the System Pillar (providing governance and system architecture), and the Deployment Group (bridging research to market deployment). The portfolio includes flagship projects such as FP1-MOTIONAL (automated rail), FP2-R2DATO (digital train automation), FP4-Rail4Earth (sustainability), FP5-TRANS4M-R (freight DAC), and FP6-FutuRe (future rail systems). Additional offerings include the European Railcast podcast, monthly newsletters, a Solutions Catalogue of R&I outputs, and the European DAC Delivery Programme. Shift2Rail is EU-Rail's predecessor programme.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FP1-MOTIONAL Flagship Area 1 project focused on automated and digital rail operations for motion control and automated train operations.
• FP2-R2DATO Flagship Area 2 project focused on rail digital automatic train operation and related automation technologies.
• FP4-Rail4Earth Flagship Area 4 project focused on sustainable and innovative rail services and environmental sustainability.
• FP5-TRANS4M-R Flagship Area 5 project supporting the Digital Automatic Coupler (DAC) for European rail freight and related freight innovations.
• FP6-FutuRe Flagship Area 6 project focused on future rail systems and long-term rail innovation.
• NEXUS Project EU-Rail project developing innovative solutions for metro systems including fully automated operations (GoA4), AI-based demand forecasting, optimization tools, and vehicle condition monitoring technologies.

Quantifiable outcome

• €18 billion proposed investment from 2028 to 2034 for rail system modernization

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• European Commission (EU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-Rail is established under Horizon Europe with the European Commission as the public partner, providing the majority of funding and governance oversight through representatives on the Governing Board. Magda Kopczynska (MOVE), Kristian Schmidt (MOVE), Joachim Luecking, and Krysztof Kuik represent the Commission.
• Alstom Transport SAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate member represented on the Governing Board by Richard French, Michael Haddad, and Nicolas Erb. Contributes to rail innovation across multiple flagship areas.
• Siemens Mobility GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate member represented on the Governing Board by Roland Edel, Lars Deiterding, and Ralf Kaminsky. Key contributor to rail automation and digitalization projects.
• Deutsche Bahn AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate member represented on the Governing Board by Manuel Lianos and Stefan Trommer. Major European railway operator contributing to system development.
• Société nationale SNCFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate member represented on the Governing Board by Christophe Cheron and Gilles Quesnel. French national railway contributing to research initiatives.
• European Union Agency for Railways (ERA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerObserver on the Governing Board represented by Oana Gherghinescu, Chris Carr, and Ny Tiana Tournier. Provides regulatory expertise and alignment with EU rail standards.
• Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (ADIF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish railway infrastructure manager represented on the Governing Board by Luis Fernando López Ruiz and David-Ibán Villalmanzo Resusta.
• Hitachi Rail STS S.p.A.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate member represented on the Governing Board by Antonella Trombetta, Carlo Crovetto, and Mariella Guerricchio. Contributes to signalling and train control systems.
• Knorr-Bremse Systems für Schienenfahrzeuge GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate member represented on the Governing Board by Hans-Christian Hilse and Martin Ertl. Leading rail vehicle equipment manufacturer.
• Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane S.p.A. (FS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian state railway represented on the Governing Board by Davide Pifferi. Contributes to Italian rail innovation priorities.
• Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman aerospace research centre represented on the Governing Board by Meike Jipp and Michael Meyer zu Hörste. Provides research expertise in related transportation domains.
• Polskie Koleje Państwowe Spółka Akcyjna (PKP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolish national railway represented on the Governing Board by Zbigniew Jancewicz.
• České dráhy, a.s.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCzech national railway represented on the Governing Board by Jan Ilík and Petr Jindra.
• ÖBB-Holding AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian Federal Railways represented on the Governing Board by Mark Topal Goekceli and Flora Strohmeier.
• Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A. (CAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish rolling stock manufacturer represented on the Governing Board by Jorge De Castro and Imanol Iturrioz Villalba.
• TrafikverketcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish transport administration represented on the Governing Board by Dr Anders Carolin and Christer Lofving.
• ProRail B.V. and NS Groep N.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch railway infrastructure manager and operator represented on the Governing Board by Hotske Zijlstra and Tijmen Voet.
• INDRA SISTEMAS S.A. and PATENTES TALGO S.L.U.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish technology and rolling stock companies represented on the Governing Board by Jose Miguel Rubio Sanchez, Alfredo Gonzalez Moreno, and Leyre Merle Carrera.
• Infraestruturas de PortugalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortuguese railway infrastructure manager represented on the Governing Board by Patricia Figueira, Margarida Pinto, and Francisco Ganhão.
• voestalpine Railway Systems GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian rail technology company represented on the Governing Board by Franz Sodia and Uwe Ossberger.
• Jernbanedirektoratet (Norwegian Rail Directorate)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian rail authority represented on the Governing Board by Preben Saethre and Pal Midtlien Danielsen.
• Strukton Rail Nederland B.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch rail infrastructure company represented on the Governing Board by Tjark de Vries and Henk Samson.
• FrequentiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian communications company represented on the Governing Board by Michael Holzbauer and Günter Graf. Focus on railway communications systems.
• ANGELRAIL consortium (MER MEC S.p.A)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRail technology consortium represented on the Governing Board by Francesco Inzirillo and Vincenzo Scarnera.
• European Smart Green Rail Joint Venture (eSGR JV) / CEMOSAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish consortium represented on the Governing Board by Noemi Jimenez Redondo, Jose Solis Hernandez, and Celestino Martinez.
• AŽD Praha s.r.ocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCzech rail technology company represented on the Governing Board by Vladimir Kampik and Michal Pavel.
• ACCIONAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish infrastructure group represented on the Governing Board by Javier Bonilla. Contributes to construction and infrastructure aspects.
• Asociación Centro Tecnológico CEITcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish research centre represented on the Governing Board by Dr Iñaki Díaz and Jaizki Mendizabal.
• XLAB D.O.O.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSlovenian research company represented on the Governing Board by Daniel Vladušič, Nejc Bat, Blaž Jemenšek, Ismael Sánchez, and Manuel Menéndez.
• Faiveley Transport SAScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench rail equipment manufacturer (part of Wabtec) represented on the Governing Board by Paolo Pagliero and Matteo Frea.
• KontroncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology company represented on the Governing Board by Michael Mikulandra and Ulrich Geier. Provides electronics and IT solutions.
• European Rail Research Advisory Council (ERRAC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerObserver on the Governing Board represented by Dr Marion Berbineau and Artur Fojud. Provides strategic research advice to the European rail sector.
• Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking (predecessor)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-Rail is the universal successor of Shift2Rail, established by Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085. Shift2Rail decisions continue to apply under Article 174(12) of the regulation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• International Union of Railways (UIC): Global rail industry association promoting interoperability and cooperation across worldwide rail operators. Operates at global rather than EU-specific scope, but its standardisation and research coordination activities overlap with EU-Rail's interoperability and harmonisation mission.
• European Union Agency for Railways (ERA): EU agency responsible for railway interoperability and safety regulation. Operates in the same rail sector with overlapping scope (ERA is an observer on EU-Rail's Governing Board), but its mandate is regulatory rather than research funding.

Direct peers

• SESAR Joint Undertaking: The European Joint Undertaking for air traffic management research under Horizon Europe. Direct structural peer — same legal form, same EU co-funding model, same public-private partnership governance with a Governing Board of industry members.
• Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking: EU Joint Undertaking funding hydrogen R&I under Horizon Europe. Shares EU-Rail's legal form, Council Regulation establishment, public-private partnership structure and competitive Calls for Proposals model.
• Innovative Health Initiative (IHI): EU Joint Undertaking for health research under Horizon Europe. Shares EU-Rail's public-private partnership model, Governing Board structure with industry members, and Horizon Europe funding mechanics, though operating in a different sector.
• Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking: EU Joint Undertaking for bio-based industries under Horizon Europe. Structural peer: identical Council Regulation basis, public-private partnership with industry Governing Board members, and similar grant-allocation funding model.

Others

• Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking: EU-Rail's direct predecessor programme. Not a separate operating entity today, but the institutional, legal and programme predecessor — provides the closest historical and operational baseline for understanding EU-Rail's mandate and evolution.
• UNIFE (Union of European Railway Industries & Transport Companies): European rail supply industry association representing rolling stock, signalling and infrastructure suppliers. UNIFE members (Alstom, Siemens Mobility, Hitachi Rail, CAF, etc.) sit on EU-Rail's Governing Board, positioning it as a coordinated industry voice that shapes EU-Rail's programme priorities.
• Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER): Industry association representing railway operators and infrastructure managers across Europe. Adjacent ecosystem participant — its members sit on EU-Rail's Governing Board, making CER a key channel for stakeholder alignment with EU-Rail's programmes.

Emerging players

• European Rail Research Advisory Council (ERRAC): The European Technology Platform for rail, providing strategic research agenda advice to the European Commission. Observer on EU-Rail's Governing Board; complementary rail research advisory role rather than a direct funding competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EURail_JU
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCl1YkvzMFCzYElvLV6HlXVQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/europesrail
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eu-rail-joint-undertaking

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking