On 11 September, Lea Paties, Senior Programme Manager at EU-Rail, participated in an expert session at the Dolní Bousov – Kopidlno test line, Czech Republic, hosted by AŽD Praha focused on autonomous rail systems. The programme included a live demonstration of EDITA, Europe’s first open-environment driverless passenger train, developed by AŽD Praha with the support of EU-Rail. Equipped with front-mounted cameras, sensors and lidar, EDITA can autonomously detect and respond to obstacles on the track. The event also featured expert discussions on both the opportunities and challenges of autonomous rail, providing a platform for engineers, researchers and decision‑makers to exchange insights.

On 23 September, during the TRAKO International Railway Fair in Poland, the DAC Guided Tour, organised by the European DAC Delivery Programme (EDDP) with the support of EU-Rail, FP5-TRANS4M-R, DACFIT, DACCORD and FP5-DACtiVate, was successfully held.

The tour brought together various rail stakeholders and partners from the EU-Rail projects, offering attendees a comprehensive overview of Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) activities across Europe.

The event began at the Instytut Kolejnictwa (Railway Institute) and continued with guided visits to the booths of key partners, including PKP S.A., Dellner and Voith Group.

The day also featured a panel discussion exploring key challenges, highlighting the importance of automation in rail freight and gathering diverse perspectives on the future of DAC in Europe.

On 9 September, EU-Rail participated in the FP2-R2DATO ATO GoA4 & Remote Driving Live Demonstration held in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The event was co-organised by Nederlandse Spoorwegen and Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) and brought together key representatives from across the rail sector.

The event showcased ground breaking advances in automated and remote driving, including a live demonstration of remote and automated stabling operations in mixed-traffic conditions between Hengelo Station and Enschede Shunting Yard.

As part of our EU-Rail FP2–R2DATO project, which aims to enable Automated Train Operation (ATO) and ensure Reproducible Braking Distance (RBD), Knorr-Bremse, together with Deutsche Bahn and DB Systemtechnik, is testing brake-level functionality in the advanced TrainLab (aTL).  Innovations being tested include: 

• Adaptive sanding systems
• WheelGrip Adapt algorithm for wheel slide protection

The test results will be analysed in 2025, with findings expected by the end of the year. A potential follow-up project with new testing criteria is also under consideration. 

Our EU-Rail ESEP4Freight project has launched a new web platform designed to enhance the accessibility, transparency and competitiveness of intermodal rail freight across Europe. At the core of the platform is an interactive map that displays intermodal terminals and enables users to plan routes primarily by rail, with the option to incorporate available barge connections. Key features include terminal info and comparison, route planning with external cost estimation, corridors and traffic flows and a smart contract demo. The platform is intended for logistics providers, shippers, terminal operators, authorities and researchers, offering practical tools to support more efficient and sustainable freight transport.

A newly released video compellingly highlights two groundbreaking initiatives in which Trenitalia plays a crucial role within Work Package 18 “Robotics Platforms“, of the EU-Rail FP3-IAM4RAIL project.   

The primary aim is to integrate advanced robotics into key railway maintenance processes, thereby significantly boosting efficiency, enhancing safety and promoting sustainability.  

The first initiative features the Disinfection Robot (DR), developed entirely within the project in collaboration with Groupe SNCF and PKP. This robot is designed to be integrated into sanitation activities and, in the subsequent phase (wave 2), into the cleaning of rolling stock.  

Adding to this is ARGO, a robot patented by Trenitalia in an Open Innovation initiative with the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna and developed outside of the FP3-IAM4RAIL project. Its integration into the European project aims to enhance and amplify its significant contributions related to neural network training for cooperation scenarios, utilising AI and computer vision techniques for undercarriage inspections.  

As part of our EU-Rail project IAM4RAIL, a new model is being tested to improve how operational availability is measured and managed across the railway network. Initial tests on a 33 km single-track section have shown promising results, offering a strong basis for further technical validation. A pilot is now underway on the Malmbanan line, aiming to analyse longer sections and gather broader insights.  The model aligns with the Swedish Transport Administration’s evolving focus on combining customer needs with real-time infrastructure condition. Future developments will extend the model’s scope to include double-track configurations, operational reliability and safety (RAMS), and the effects of maintenance measures on functional safety. 

On 8 July, our EU-Rail project FP4-Rail4EARTH held its 9th Steering Committee in Le Mans, France. Representatives from the project’s 23 members gathered at the SNCF Voyageurs Matériel Engineering Centre for the quarterly progress review. The event focused on updates across 28 Work Packages and 6 Sub-projects. 

Key achievements include: 

• 50 progress reports produced since December 2022 

• Around 30 papers presented at international conferences

• 16 demonstrators reached TRLs 6-7 

The project has published a report compiling all the executive summaries of the confidential deliverables (SEN) submitted during the first half (M1-M24) of the FP4-Rail4EARTH project.

As part of our EU-Rail TRANS4M-R project, Wabtec Corporation’s Joint Communication Test Lab (JCTL) in Piossasco, Italy, recently hosted an interoperability testing session for Digital Automatic Coupler (DAC) systems,  a key enabler of smarter, more competitive freight trains across Europe.   Experts from Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB, the International Union of Wagon Keepers (UIP), Siemens and others came together to validate Single Pair Ethernet communication between systems from Wabtec, Knorr-Bremse, Alstom and Siemens. Freight transport meets the future here, through hands-on testing, deep collaboration and tangible progress toward a unified digital freight ecosystem. 

On 16 September, EU-Rail Senior Programme Manager Javier Ibanez de Yrigoyen attended the Live Demonstration of Video Gates at DB Cargo’s Nürnberg shunting yard, within the framework of the FP5-TRANS4M-R project. The Video Gates installed in German rail yards scan freight wagons during shunting operations and are a key enabler for digitalisation. High-resolution images now allow for faster and more accurate damage detection from all angles directly on screen, without the need to inspect wagons manually next to the tracks. The Video Gates will be featured in the project’s webinar, which will include a full demonstration later this year.

On 24–25 September, EU-Rail Programme Manager Judit Sandor participated in the FP6Future Mid-term event held in Turin, Italy.  During a dedicated panel, participants discussed the strategic importance of regional railway networks and examined the challenges and opportunities involved in revitalising these essential lines.  Other panels focused on cost-effective CCS solutions and infrastructure innovations for regional lines, the adoption of scale up of cloud-based, wireless and space-based technologies to reduce costs and the development of an integrated, multimodal and customer-centric passenger information system for regional services.

On 19 September, our EU-Rail DACcord project took part in the Nordic DAC Forum, organised by Trafikverket and Rail Sweden. The forum centred on the ongoing efforts to modernise rail operations through the implementation of the Digital Automatic Coupler (DAC), with a specific focus on the Nordic region.  The event, led by Christer Löfving and Bo Olsson (Trafikverket), brought together industry experts and transport stakeholders to examine the opportunities and challenges of DAC deployment, touching on efficiency, safety and regulatory aspects. 

A new project, PioDAC, was presented by Jan Bergstrand (Trafikverket). Scheduled for launch in autumn 2025, the project will further advance the rollout of DAC by testing its functionality on different train types and operational settings. One of the pilot trains will operate in Norway, where the presence of numerous tunnels creates substantial temperature variation, offering a challenging environment to assess DAC’s resilience and adaptability.

At the 12th UIC World Congress on High-Speed Rail, held from July 8-11 in Beijing, China, Maria Gusarova from UIC-International union of railways presented the ambitious vision behind our EU-Rail project RAIL4CITIES. This initiative reimagines railway stations not only as mobility hubs but also as vibrant public spaces that contribute to the daily life of cities and their communities. These stations will serve as focal points for urban regeneration, fostering greener, more socially inclusive environments. 

Objectives of the RAIL4CITIES Project: 

• Establish a new operational model for stations as Sustainable City Promoters (SCPs).  • Develop a shared European methodology and practical tools for implementation.  • Provide strategic solutions to address profit-driven models, complex stakeholder dynamics and policy gaps. 

Our EU-Rail project Hyper4Rail has made significant progress during a recent workshop in Paris. Insights from passenger surveys have guided the development of technical solutions for Hyperloop systems. The survey highlighted that time savings and cost efficiency are the highest priorities for passengers.  Two operational concepts are under investigation in this phase: 

• A metro-inspired concept, enabling efficient travel between cities up to 100 km apart within 30 minutes.  • A long-distance, high-speed concept, providing a sustainable alternative to air travel for major hubs. 

These concepts will be further validated through network modelling and analysis. The team also tackled key technical challenges: 

• Developing cooling solutions for low-pressure environments where traditional methods do not apply.  • Investigating safe lane-switching at high speeds under various failure conditions.  • Analysing the impact of larger tube diameters on capital and operational expenditures. 

The team is continuously refining the system design, moving closer to the implementation of Hyperloop. 

Our EU-Rail NEXUS project has carried out an in-depth study to understand metro user and operator needs. The data came from: 

• A passenger survey with 899 respondents from cities across Europe, six expert interviews and a global operator survey involving 22 metro operators 

• A workshop-based survey with 10 metro operators and insights from a dedicated workshop session.    

Insights reveal priorities such as real-time travel information, safe and well-supported automation strategies, cross-functional coordination, cybersecurity and predictive maintenance and inclusive design.  

These findings will guide the next steps of the NEXUS project, helping metro operators make informed decisions about technology adoption, system design and passenger-facing services. 

The NEXUS project was presented at the Railway 200 event at Aston University on 17 September 2025. Aston University researchers Patrick Bannon and Lydia Egbo introduced the project and outlined its focus on optimisation, analysis, energy and service efficiency for future urban and metro transport. The presentation gave an overview of the project’s progress as it enters its second year, and highlighted Aston University’s role as one of 13 consortium partners. Topics included Communities of Practice, advanced modelling approaches and the use of data science and AI in future metro operations. 

Our PhDs EU-Rail project has released the “Common European PhD rail research planning tutorial” to provide a structured and comprehensive guide for doctoral candidates in the European research framework, with a focus on advancing innovation and academic excellence in the rail sector. This tutorial is designed to support candidates in navigating the complexities of doctoral research while aligning their work with the broader goals of Europe’s rail research initiatives and the future of European mobility systems. 

On 16-17 September, our EU-Rail PhD’s EU-Rail and Academics4Rail projects held a joint general assembly hosted by the Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius.  The two-day programme brought together project partners, researchers and PhD students to review progress, share research insights and address cross-cutting issues shaping the future of European rail.  Key topics included research contributions in the social, digital and technical domains, as well as cross-cutting discussions on gender inclusion, education and skills development. The event concluded with a technical site visit to Lithuanian Railways, bridging academic research with real-world practice.

An article in the September 2025 edition of ETR (Eisenbahntechnische Rundschau) titled “Pods for Healthcare – An Evolutionary Approach to Strengthen Emergency Networks Worldwide” explores the PODS4Rail project.  The piece outlines how the project, funded by EU-Rail and developed in partnership with Siemens, the German Aerospace Center (CLR), EURNEX and Moodley, is rethinking emergency medical response through autonomous, modular healthcare pods integrated into a rail-based, intermodal transport system. These mobile units offer hospital-grade care in remote, underserved, or crisis-hit areas, helping bridge healthcare gaps across Europe and beyond. 

Over the past few months, our EU-Rail SYMBIOSIS project has conducted an online consultation among railway operators and asset managers to assess habitat and biodiversity monitoring practices and their role in informing decisions and achieving environmental sustainability objectives. Feedback from participants in over 15 European countries, two-thirds of whom are directly involved in the railway sector, shows a clear interest in the topic. While demand for high-quality data on habitat and biodiversity is increasing, participants identified cost and lack of expertise as the main barriers that need to be addressed. In the coming months, the SYMBIOSIS team will work closely with stakeholders and project partners to investigate how AI and data science innovations can overcome these barriers, leading to improved integration of biodiversity data in railway operations, enhanced efficiency and greater contributions to biodiversity conservation within European transport infrastructure. The survey remains open for additional contributions.