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ERRAC Roadmap for guiding rail research

ERRAC Roadmap delivered ROADMAPS to guide rail research which provides a rail option that is reliable, environmentally friendly, efficient and economic to customers.

Project leader

Prof Mark Robinson

Dates

June 2009 to May 2012

Project staff

Dr Cristian Ulianov

Sponsors

Commission of the European Communities

Partners

European Rail Infrastructure Managers

Knorr-Bremse

Ansaldo

Trenitalia

Network Rail

Italcertifer

Community of European Railway and Infrastructure

European Federation of Railway Trackworks Contractors

Corus

UNIFE

Mer Mec

Eurnex

Bombardier

Description

The ERRAC Roadmap project addressed the broad coordinating challenges of the FP7’s call STT.2008.5.2.2 - Competitive transport operations. This is a Level 1 Coordination and Support Action aimed at coordinating rail research activities.

The main aim of the 3 year project was to draft a strategic plan to turn ERRAC 2020 Vision into reality. The development of the yearly roadmaps enables a step by step tool to reach the goals developed in the Strategic Rail Research Agenda 2020.

ERRAC Roadmap covers research related to all types of freight and passenger rail services. It also covers:

  • Their interaction with other modes within the transport system
  • High speed & conventional rail over long, medium and short distances
  • Urban rail & co-modal services
  • The implementation of such research

It also supports the various activities of the European Rail Research Advisory Council in 2008 and beyond.

It favours the sustainable mobility of European citizens.

ERRAC Roadmap contributed to the translation, monitoring and dissemination of the whole European industry, the strategic recommendations and guidelines of the SRRA.

The ROADMAPS themselves will address the issues, stakeholders and subjects for consideration. They highlighted four major issues:

  • Holistic rail strategies for the minimization of operation, environmental maintenance and inspection costs for vehicles and infrastructure in general;
  • Simple and economical rail maintenance and renovation of rail infrastructure;
  • Improved real time information systems for rail operators, infrastructure managers and customers;
  • Coordination with other public and private bodies in order to better fit the customers’ needs.

NewRail is co-leading alongside TRENITALIA the WP6 - Past projects evaluation and Evaluation Database.

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