Expected Outcome:

Building upon the results of S2R IP5^[1], EU-Rail FP5-TRANS4M-R^[2] and European DAC Delivery Programme (EDDP)^[3] in particular, and other rail research and innovation activities, the Flagship Project stemming from this topic is expected to contribute to Europe’s Rail Programme addressing the two areas described in the previous Destination 5 section, more in particular addressing two workstreams:

1. Work Stream WS1 Full digital Freight Train Operations with DAC as enabler for full digital freight train operation;
2. Work Stream WS2 Seamless Freight: with easy access and reliable (intermodal) transport service offering digital solutions.

Based on the two workstreams to be addressed, the Action is also expected to tackle specific activities/actions in relation to:

• FDFTO backend concept and its development in close alignment with rail freight stakeholders and System Pillar
• Contribute actively to the DAC specification, including power and data transmission
• Define concrete reliability targets in collaboration with ERA
• Address identified open points and actively contribute to specific technical solutions and risk identified (crashworthiness, specific requirements for ATEX environments, running dynamic behaviour in locomotives with hybrid coupling systems, longitudinal compressive forces in track gauges other than 1435 mm if possible)
• DAC migration requirements and specifications and how the assessment/definition of those specific requirements is linked to the DAC state of the art
• Support the pioneer DAC train activities and the links to testing and authorisation activities
• Explore the use of the web platform developed in Wave 1 ^[4] in the relevant demonstrators related to the seamless freight corridor and seamless customer freight solutions to be delivered. Consider further development for this web platform, including the integration of real time data for freight services within the scope of work.
• Specific demonstration activity to be considered in Central/Eastern Europe.

For WS1 this destination should deliver by 2028 the following demonstrators:

European full digital freight train operations: (TRL 7-8)

• Proposals are expected to deliver a follow-up large-scale demonstrator from EU-Rail FP5-TRANS4M-R^[2] and extend the outcomes and results from TRL 7 to TRL 8. This includes the full digital freight train operations based on DAC Type 4 and Type 5 (including energy supply and data/communication solution) (TRL 8), train composition detection/management system, automated/automatic brake test system (TRL 8), and train integrity / train length determination (TRL 7). For this specific enabler, close coordination with the action to be funded under Destination 2 is to be performed, including an action plan for joint testing activities to be delivered within Month 3 of the project.

European full digital freight train operations: (TRL 5-7)

Proposals are expected to deliver a second demonstrator with a lower TRL level for technical solutions upgrading available functionality but at TRL 6-7 for automated parking brake system, digital wagon inspection (including RST+INF assets) concepts and solutions, and distributed power concepts and solutions (TRL 5-6) and electro-pneumatic brake (TRL 6-7), with specific focus on proving full functionality (added value for the sector respecting/meeting customer needs), safe system integration, interoperability and harmonised (cross-border) operation. Demonstration of innovative concepts for efficient, high-performing freight assets and self-propelled wagons (TRL 5-6) and automated/autonomous loading/unloading technologies (TRL 7-8) for last mile distribution are also expected to be addressed.

Demonstration of Yard automation: (TRL 7)

Demonstration of fully automated shunting loco(and wagons) movements, yard digitalization and full automated train composition and dispatching, as well as yard automation equipment and data exchange on wagon condition are expected to be addressed. Demonstrators shall focus on full functionality (added value for the sector respecting/meeting customer needs), safe system integration, interoperability, harmonized (cross-border) operation.

The return on experience of the demonstrators shall pave the way for preparing an European-wide DAC roll-out and finalization of the DAC standardisation and contribute to build up robustness of various TSI revisions. This will enable necessary safety analysis or safe system integration followed by authorisation prerequisite for deployment.

• In addition of the above, the proposal shall cover important preparatory works to be launched for the future set of demonstration foreseen in the Multi- Annual Work Programme in view of the evolutions of the solutions.:

For WS2 this destination should deliver by 2028 at least the following:

Seamless freight corridor TRL 5-8

The cross-border freight trains demonstrator should be demonstrated on (parts of) two European corridors. It should demonstrate: integrated cross-border timetable planning, management and path ordering systems taking into account planning horizons (Digital Capacity Management) and especially the specific needs of short-term path requests for (international) freight services also last mile service, as well as for real-time interaction between various TMS (including yards/terminals) coming from destination. It should also demonstrate Dynamic yard/terminal management systems with optimization functions using and providing real-time information from/to the dynamic TMS systems, Dynamic freight specific real time functions for the interaction of TMS and other management systems, Real-time gathering and processing of influencing data. Connection with rail TMS systems and other resource management systems, AI based prediction models. Accuracy and computational learning functions

This demonstrator should include technologies for standardized European Railway checkpoints at borders or other operational stop points, replacing manual process by digitalization and automation, using innovative technologies and processes. The demonstrator will include Integrating and connecting the last mile (accession lines/shunting/yards/ terminals) slot planning directly or via interfaces. This will have to be connected with other supporting implementations like certified translation tools or harmonized processes.

Seamless customer freight TRL6-8

The seamless planning management and booking of multimodal rail-based transport integrating multi-actors, should be demonstrated by combining the key enablers to an innovative open system, which will simplify the way of organizing transport and integrating rail in modern supply chains. Based on increased data quality and availability on one side and improved routing engines on the other side it should be demonstrated how transport planning^[6] will get more responsive to changing demand, disruptions and customer requirements. This demonstrator will ease end customers to interface with rail. In addition dynamic TMS stemming from call the flagship project from Destination 1 shall be incorporated in connection with dynamic dispatching tools which shall be key for the optimal automation of yards and last mile operations^[7].

In addition of the above, the proposal shall cover important preparatory works needs to be launched for the future set of demonstration foreseen in the Multi- annual Work programme in view of the evolutions of the solutions mentioned above, which then shall be extended by additional functions, extended scope and higher TRL levels.

The action to be funded under this Destination also needs to provide the following necessary element for the demonstrations under the action to be funded under Destination 1 to be delivered for 2028 demonstration: For FA5 WS1 enablers to be identified under the Scope section of Destination 1. For FA5 WS2 enablers to be identified under the Scope section of Destination 1

The action to be funded under this Destination also needs to provide the following necessary element for the demonstrations under the action to be funded under Destination 2 to be delivered for 2028 demonstration: Enablers to be identified under the Scope section of Destination 2.

The action to be funded under this Destination also needs to provide the following necessary element for the demonstrations under the action to be funded under Destination 3 to be delivered for 2028 demonstration: Enablers to be identified under the Scope section of Destination 3.

Scope:

The Flagship Project stemming from this topic should develop the following capabilities:

Capabilities for improving European full digital freight train operations

• Enabler 1: Development of an EU-harmonized DAC, plus the necessary freight consist backbone system including a solution for both the energy supply as well as data/communication (setting the right conditions towards modular -standard interfaces- expected to be scalable, of plug & play integration, etc. solution). As needed by the demonstrator the enabler must be able to drive complete train sets. Apart from the development of a coupler solution for locomotives, this DAC shall be upgradable to Type 5. (TRL 8 by 2028). There is also the identified need for the development of the FDFT backend concept (TRL5) as the enabler to ensure communication to and from the vehicles.
• Enabler 2: Developing a train composition detection/management system, automated/automatic brake test system, on asset side DAC wagon retrofitting solutions. (TRL 8 by 2028)
• Enabler 3: Automated parking brake system, digital wagon inspection, distributed power system, electro-pneumatic brake (TRL 6-7 by 2028) and cover important preparatory works with higher TRL for the future set of demonstration foreseen in the Multi- annual Work programme in view of the evolutions of the solutions.

Capabilities for increasing automation in shunting operations

• Enabler 4 Development of systems and solutions for basic autonomous shunting operations. Development of solutions for yard automation including digitalization that enable automated train composition and dispatching (Automated Shunting Operations), including data exchange on wagon condition (visual recognition methodologies and AI-tools for yard automation) (TRL7 by 2028) and cover important preparatory works with higher TRL for the future set of demonstration foreseen in the Multi- annual Work programme in view of the evolutions of the solutions.
• Enabler 5 Achieving expected consolidation of the expected new freight capabilities, providing requirements and giving feedback to Destination 2 for new automation technology solutions for the automated driving and decision-making as well as automating functions, such as train preparation and basic automatic yard shunting (TRL8 by 2028).

Capabilities for DAC based wagon concepts incl. multi-modal transport applications

• Enabler 6 Developing DAC based wagon concepts incl. multi-modal transport applications (retrofitting needs for combined traffic T3000 kind of wagons) (TRL 7-8 by 2028). This also includes the development of innovative concepts for efficient high performing freight assets and self-propelled wagons (TRL 6 by 2028) and cover important preparatory works with higher TRL for the future set of demonstration foreseen in the Multi- annual Work programme in view of the evolutions of the solutions

Capabilities for Seamless Freight Corridor

• Enabler 7 Setting up the respective models and systems to test and demonstrate the destination 1 developments for integrated timetable planning on selected part of a European corridor (TRL7-8 by 2028) and cover important preparatory works with higher TRL for the future set of demonstration foreseen in the Multi- annual Work programme in view of the evolutions of the solutions
• Enabler 8 Develop dynamic yard/terminal management systems and test their integration with dynamic TMS based on agreed interfaces– that will be specified among destination 1 and the TMS development that will come from destination 1 (TRL 6-8 by 2028) and cover important preparatory works with higher TRL for the future set of demonstration foreseen in the Multi- annual Work programme in view of the evolutions of the solutions
• Enabler 9 Specify and develop intermodal monitoring and prediction systems, which shall work in combination with dynamic TMS and other resource management systems using AI based models, accuracy and computational learning functions (TRL6-8 by 2028) and cover important preparatory works with higher TRL for the future set of demonstration foreseen in the Multi- annual Work programme in view of the evolutions of the solutions
• Enabler 10 Specify and develop Railway Checkpoints that will automate Freight Train Transfer Inspections at borders, yards or other operational stop points, digitalising and automating processes through innovative sensors, specialised adapted video gates and handheld devices. Integrative deployment of video gates, way side check points, visual recognition methodologies and AI-Tools for yard automation (TRL 8 by 2028) in connection with Destination 3 and cover important preparatory works with higher TRL for the future set of demonstration foreseen in the Multi- annual Work programme in view of the evolutions of the solutions

Capabilities for Seamless Freight Multimodal and Customer

• Enabler 11 Specifications for the development of integrated multimodal transport planning, management and operational systems enabling easy access to rail-base (intermodal) services and dynamic demand responsive service offering, network planning and capacity management based on agreed interfaces with TMS – with Destination 1 - and the specific freight development to support this functionality (TRL5-8 by 2028). and cover important preparatory works with higher TRL for the future set of demonstration foreseen in the Multi- annual Work programme in view of the evolutions of the solutions
• Enabler 12 Analysis and coordination of requirements for seamless data exchange / data availability for the various Destination 5 developments and planned demonstrations, taking into account existing/proposed data standards (if applicable) and regulations e.g. TAF TSI. Specification and development of required processes/tools (e.g. interfaces/ converters.) (TRL 7-8 by 2028) and cover important preparatory works with higher TRL for the future set of demonstration foreseen in the Multi- annual Work programme in view of the evolutions of the solutions
• Enabler 13 Analysis and coordination of required technology upgrades of legacy/national systems to be able to provide/consume/process harmonised data from/for international (European) applications/innovations. Development of an implementation plan. (TRL 7-8 by 2028)

For Research & innovation and demonstrations activities (within the action) making use of data models related to the interoperability or safety of the rail system, those data models should be aligned with the ERA Ontology^[8]. This ontology defines the conceptual framework and the specific terms and relationships for the interoperability or safety of the rail system in the EU that shall be used or where relevant extended. This includes the reuse of the ERA ontology with its semantic artifacts (shacl rules, skos ..) and in cases where it is not sufficient, extensions should be proposed to maintain semantic consistency and interoperability across systems. Those extensions proposals should cover the processes to validate extension to the ERA Ontology with compliant datasets and related competency questions and linked SPARQL queries based on interoperability testbed validation tools (Interoperability Test Bed Guides — ITB Guides^[9]). Corresponding documentation should also include any mappings or transformations considered in the Research & Innovation activities and any assumptions made.

Collaboration work required with other FAs, SP and CEF projects

The action to be funded under Destination 5 should foresee developing a deliverable capturing specific requirements described in the Expected scope and relevant for the action to be funded under Destination 1, Destination 2, and Destination 3, suggested to be delivered indicatively by M6.

The action to be funded under Destination 5 shall foresees a common activity/task related to the review of system specifications to be developed by the action to be funded under Destination 1, Destination 2, Destination 3.

The action to be funded under Destination 5 shall foresee a common activity/task related to the Preparatory works on the integration and pilot test(s) of the technical enablers to be provided by the action to be funded under Destination 1, Destination 2, Destination 3 for the demonstration to be carried out in the action to be funded by Destination 1, Destination 2, Destination 3.

It is expected that the Flagship Project stemming from this topic will use the EU-RAIL System Pillar Cybersecurity specifications ^[10], provide feedback to the Destination 1 Workstream 2 covering Cybersecurity and foresee adequate structure and resources for these activities.

Additionally, the project should seek for synergies with any project stemming from the topic call “CEF-T-2024-SIMOBGEN-REMIB-WORKS : Removing rail interoperability barriers - studies, works or mixed” that would include a rail DAC related application.

The project should also seek for synergies and take into account the output of the EU-Rail Projects DACtivate and DACFit.

Key Performance Indicators

The action shall actively contribute to measure and monitor the specific quantitative KPIs defined in the Destination description above, including its contribution to the Europe’s Rail Master Plan impacts. Outcomes are to be delivered at a calendar annual basis by each year end

Interaction with the System Pillar

The System Pillar aims to guide, support and secure the work of the Innovation Pillar (i.e. to ensure that research is targeted on commonly agreed and shared customer requirements and operational needs, compatible and aligned to the system architecture), and the Innovation Pillar will impact the scope of the System Pillar where new technologies or processes mean that innovations can drive a change in approach, as well as delivering detailed specifications and requirements.

All necessary documents will be exchanged with the System Pillar regardless of the confidentiality status.

For the harmonisation and finalisation of operational procedures, concurrent development and harmonisation in the context of the migration scenarios will be carried out with the system pillar team with the aim to determine their impact on the definition of the procedures

For freight system architecture, there should be collaboration and regular interactions with the System Pillar experts.

In this respect, the proposal should allocate necessary resources that would be dedicated to areas linked to the System Pillar conceptual and architecture works – particularly addressing specification development (the interaction is illustrated in the System Pillar – Innovation Pillar interaction note (Annex VI of this Work Programme)). The alignment of the activities will primarily take place during the Grant Preparation Phase and ramp up phase of the awarded proposal, and there will be continued, structured and regular interaction through the life of the project.

System Pillar interaction will mainly regard system architecture incl. logic for authorisation responsibility for each component, authorisation strategy/preparation/planning and safety management, standardisation management, and on top on migration planning and CBA which is in the scope of EDDP.

The EU-RAIL System Pillar is producing specifications and other relevant documents ^[11]. In general the documents applicable to the Destination 5 should be used. If it is considered documents are not applicable, the proposals shall explain the reason(s) for not using them (to note the application of the documents may still be required by EU-RAIL). During the action to be funded under this Destination, there may be updating of the documents, including based on feedback from application in technical enablers and demonstrators. Relevant feedback should be provided on a regular basis to EU-RAIL and the System Pillar.

The action shall actively contribute to the update of the EU-Rail Standardisation and TSIs input plan (STIP) wherever relevant. Similarly, the action shall contribute to the development and implementation of EU policy and legislation including Technical Specifications for Interoperability and Common Safety Methods, as well as to publications of the System Pillar.

Gender dimension

In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.

Other

It is expected that the Flagship Project stemming from this topic:

• will involve sufficient European geographical representation of academia, and ensure that all needed expertise for the described activities reflects the Special skills and/or capabilities expected from the Applicant(s) as described in the specific topic conditions.
• will be compliant with the EU Data Policy 2020 and associated legal instruments. This requires adherence to EU framework, including but not limited to the Open Data Directive (EU) 2019/1024 and associated implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/138 on high-value data sets, the Data Governance Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/868), the Data Act (Regulation (EU) 2023/2854), and the Interoperable Europe Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/903). Ensuring compliance involves verifying that data management, processing and sharing comply with applicable EU framework.

[1] Results from Shift2Rail activities should be taken into account, please see FR8RAIL II D1.2-FR82 Automatic coupling and wagon design spec: https://projects.shift2rail.org/download.aspx?id=6bcc5d84-2b74-48f2-a24d-f52351c9904a

[2] Results from FP5-TRANS4M-R (https://projects.rail-research.europa.eu/eurail-fp5/deliverables/)

[3] Results from European DAC Delivery Programme ( EDDP ) enabled by Europe’s Rail should be taken into account, please see https://rail-research.europa.eu/european-dac-delivery-programme/

[4] Results from ESEP4Freight (https://www.esep4freight.eu/deliverables/)

[5] Results from FP5-TRANS4M-R (https://projects.rail-research.europa.eu/eurail-fp5/deliverables/)

[6] Results from Shift2Rail activities should be taken into account, see S2R IP5 ARCC D3.1 – Improved methodology for timetable planning https://projects.shift2rail.org/download.aspx?id=c32f4173-14db-431f-b31c-40aee080a437

[7] Results from Shift2Rail activities should be taken into account, see S2R IPC OPTIYARD D5.2 D5.2 Yard optimization algorithm_network decision-support tool https://projects.shift2rail.org/download.aspx?id=f0a32c8c-e23e-4488-bc4e-45e53c527788

[8] https://github.com/Interoperable-data/ERA-Ontology-3.1.0

[9] https://www.itb.ec.europa.eu/docs/guides/latest/overview/index.html

[10] https://rail-research.europa.eu/horizontal-tasks/

[11] https://rail-research.europa.eu/v1-release/