EU-Rail Proposes $19.4 Billion Public-Private Plan to Reinvent Rail

EU-Rail has launched a strategic call for a $19.4 billion public-private investment to transform rail transport, simplify systems, and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and sovereignty through innovation and modernization. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The proposal includes $3.2 billion for research and $16.2 billion for scaling up harmonized, EU-wide rail technologies. It outlines a vision of smarter, more resilient, and flexible operations.

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Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, welcomed the plan. He highlighted its alignment with the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework and the bloc’s strategic goals.

EU-Rail Plan Targets Innovation and System Simplification

EU-Rail members developed the initiative to build on the success of Shift2Rail and the current Europe’s Rail program. The focus now shifts to faster implementation of digital solutions and common standards.

Giorgio Travaini, Executive Director of Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking, emphasized the need to reduce complexity. He said modularity, automation, and shorter certification cycles would improve response to market needs.

The plan outlines three key objectives: agility, resilience, and competitiveness. All rely on coordinated investment across public and private sectors and require support throughout the innovation cycle.

EU-Rail Partnership Aims to Boost Global Competitiveness

To remain globally competitive, Europe must reduce rail system costs while improving performance. The EU-Rail strategy aims to enhance asset utilization and lifecycle savings through digitalization and interoperability.

Cybersecurity, infrastructure protection, and climate adaptation also stand at the core of the strategy. These measures directly support the EU’s long-term industrial sovereignty and reduce foreign dependence.

A unified EU-level approach remains critical. Rail’s cross-border nature demands harmonized technologies and coordinated policy. Without this, Europe risks losing global influence in rail innovation and mobility.

Source: railwaypro.com

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