A SUSTAINABLE AND GREEN RAIL SYSTEM

The HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-FA4-01 grant opportunity aims to develop a sustainable and green rail system under Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking, with a focus on innovating the rail sector towards environmental sustainability. This initiative seeks funding for a flagship project with a total indicative budget of EUR 26.6 million, covering a project duration of 30 months. The funding mechanism is a grant structured as an Innovation Action under Horizon Europe, providing 60% of eligible costs, with a co-funding requirement where beneficiaries must finance the remaining 40%.

Eligible applicants include a wide variety of organizations within the rail ecosystem, such as rail infrastructure managers, railway undertakings, rail suppliers (including manufacturers and technology providers), research institutes, academia, small and medium-sized enterprises, and start-ups. The project requires a consortium approach, reflecting a diverse range of expertise necessary to address the complex challenges within the rail industry.

Geographically, entities from EU Member States, EEA countries, and Horizon Europe Associated Countries can apply. The project targets Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) between 6 and 9, focusing on development, validation, demonstration, and commercialization stages.

Key areas of innovation include alternative energy solutions for rolling stock, energy management systems that integrate renewable sources, improvements in sustainability and resilience of railway infrastructure, advancements in electro-mechanical components, and enhancements in air quality and passenger experience.

The proposal must demonstrate the ability to deliver significant technical progress across several domains, including battery-electric and hydrogen-powered trains, smart energy grids, and modular station designs, by the project's conclusion in 2028. Notably, only one project will be funded, making the competition highly selective with an anticipated success rate of below 10%.

The call opens on October 30, 2025, with a submission deadline of February 11, 2026. The application process follows a single-stage submission structure, and applicants must justify their co-funding contributions, particularly from private sector members, which must include in-kind contributions at specified leverage ratios. The project not only aims to contribute to a Climate Neutral Europe by 2050 but also seeks to enhance the overall attractiveness and operational effectiveness of rail services, therefore encouraging a shift from other transport modalities towards rail infrastructure. This opportunity invites multidisciplinary consortia to address these critical needs and deliver innovative solutions for the future of European rail transport.

DESTINATION 4 A sustainable and green rail system

This EU funding opportunity aims to improve the sustainability and attractiveness of railway systems through research, innovation, and deployment of new technologies and services. The goal is to minimize the environmental impact, optimize performance, stimulate modal shift, and improve passenger experience, contributing to a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. The selected proposal will be a Flagship Project of Europe’s Rail, requiring an integrated sector systemic approach.

Key areas of focus include:

Energy and CO2 Savings:
Developing a more integrated and standardized Rail Power Smart Grid.
Integrating greener energy sources.
Cutting peak energy consumption.
Improving energy management at both station and system levels.
Enhancing energy flexibility and resilience of the Electrical Smart Grid.

Circular and Sustainable Solutions:
Technologies, systems, and materials for more sustainable and resilient railway infrastructure, assets, and rolling stock.
Guidelines for designing/rehabilitating modular stations to reduce carbon footprint.

Healthier, Safer, and More Attractive Railway System:
Improved HVAC systems with better air flow management and health management measures.
Passenger flow management integrating health and safety measures.
Industrial standards for quick adaptation of interiors using modularity, bio-sourced materials, and circularity.

Expected Deliverables by 2028:

Alternative Energy Solutions for Rolling Stock (TRL 7/8):
High-performance Battery Electric Multi-Unit (BEMU) trains.
Hydrogen hybrid trains with heavy-duty inspection vehicle and/or loco for freight/passengers.
Auto-adaptive train energy consumption systems.

Holistic Approach to Energy in Rail Infrastructure (TRL 6/8):
Rail Power Smart Grid in various systems and integration of energy storage solutions.
Universal hydrogen refuelling interface with digital algorithms for improved efficiency.

Sustainability and Resilience in Asset Management (TRL 6/7):
Solutions and models for reducing noise and vibrations from railway infrastructure and rolling stock.
Tools to predict degradation, maintenance effects, and noise perception, ensuring resilience to external risks like climate change.

Improvement of Electro-Mechanical Components (TRL 7/9):
Technological solutions for airless trains: electro-mechanical braking systems and novel pantographs.
Optimized motors, gearboxes, high-performance bogies, suspensions, and new materials.
Eco-friendly HVAC system technologies.
Aerodynamic certification using experimental and numerical methods.

Healthier and Safer Rail System (TRL 7/9):
Solutions for improving air quality in trains, stations, and tunnels.

Attractiveness (TRL 7/8):
Modular rolling stock interiors with new designs and architectures, including driver’s cabins.
Solutions respecting PRM requirements and enhancing accessibility.

Preparatory Works:
Integration of technical enablers for high-performance BEMU trains.
Scalability of energy storage applications.
Airless train components’ evolution.
Preparation and simulation of integrated demonstrations in real environments.

Necessary Elements for Destination 1 Demonstrations (2028):
Enablers 4 and 5.
DAS/C-DAS and energy management experts input for optimization methods.

Scope and Enablers:

Alternative Energy Solutions for Rolling Stock:
Enabler 1: BEMU trains with long autonomy (over 200 km targeted).
Enabler 2: Hydrogen hybrid trains for infrastructure inspection/maintenance.

Holistic Approach to Energy Management:
Enabler 3: Universal hydrogen refuelling interface and digital algorithms.
Enabler 4: Integration of renewable energy sources and energy storage.
Enabler 5: Optimal energy management in the whole power system.
Optional Enabler 17: Innovative static and dynamic charging solutions for battery trains.

Sustainability and Resilience of the Rail System:
Enabler 6: Adaptation to climate change tool for railway assets.
Enabler 7: Noise indicators, simulation tools, and mitigation measures.
Enabler 8: Smarter and greener railway stations with modular design and digital twin technologies.
Enabler 9: Tools and indicators to promote eco-design and assess environmental performance.

Improvement of Electro-Mechanical Components:
Enabler 10: Electro-mechanical braking system and pantograph.
Enabler 11: Optimized motors, gearboxes, bogies, suspensions, and new materials.
Enabler 12: Alternative technologies to replace hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants in HVAC systems.
Enabler 13: Enhanced experimental and numerical methods on aerodynamic certifications.

Healthier and Safer Rail System:
Enabler 14: Improving air quality in trains, stations, and tunnels.

Attractiveness:
Enabler 15: Facilitation of on-demand/modular comfort for users.
Enabler 16: Adaptation of rolling stock with refurbishment and innovative concepts.

Data Models:
Data models related to interoperability or safety should align with the ERA Ontology.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

Autonomy: Extended reach for regional trains (target 200km).
Physical energy consumption: Up to 30% improvement in specific use cases.
Physical CO2 equivalent emissions: Up to 30% reduction for specific use cases.
Noise emitted by train: Between 3-8dB reduction for specific use cases.
Life Cycle Costs reduction: Between 5-10% for specific use cases.

Collaboration:
Common activities with Destination 1.
Use EU-RAIL System Pillar Cybersecurity specifications.
Seek synergies with projects related to next-generation lithium-based batteries.

System Pillar Interaction:
Alignment of activities with System Pillar conceptual and architecture works.

Standardisation:
Contribution to the update of the EU-Rail Standardisation and TSIs input plan (STIP).

Gender Dimension:
Integration of the gender dimension is not mandatory.

Budget and Project Duration:
Total indicative budget: EUR 26.6 million.
Project duration: 30 months.
Funding rate: 60% of eligible costs.

Applicant Requirements:
Expertise from rail infrastructure managers and railway undertakings.
Expertise from rail suppliers (system integrators, manufacturers, and technology providers).
Expertise from research institutes and academia.
Complementary expertise from other sectors and parties, with attention to SMEs and Start-ups.

The overall goal of this funding opportunity is to foster a more sustainable, efficient, and attractive European rail system by supporting innovative projects that address energy consumption, environmental impact, passenger comfort, and system resilience. It seeks to transform the rail sector into a circular economy model while ensuring compliance with EU data policies and contributing to the broader objective of a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. The program encourages collaboration across various stakeholders, including academia, industry, and SMEs, to achieve these ambitious goals.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types include private members of the EU-Rail, rail infrastructure managers, railway undertakings, rail suppliers (system integrators, manufacturers, and/or technology providers), research institutes, academia, SMEs, and Start-ups. The call specifies that applicants should ensure their proposals and consortium reflect the aggregated expertise to perform the activities and achieve the objectives.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON JU Innovation Action (HORIZON-JU-IA) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] mechanism. The funding rate is 60% of the eligible costs, with eligible costs taking the form of a lump sum.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The call emphasizes that applicants shall ensure their proposals and consortium reflect the aggregated expertise to perform the activities and achieve the objectives.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic eligibility appears to be focused on EU and associated countries, as this is a Horizon Europe program. However, the text mentions that a number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector: The target sector is the rail industry, specifically focusing on sustainable and green rail systems. This includes alternative energy solutions, energy management, asset management, electro-mechanical components, health and safety, and attractiveness of rail systems.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the opportunity is focused on the European Union and associated countries, as it falls under the Horizon Europe program.

Project Stage: The project stage is primarily focused on demonstration, validation, and development, with a target Technology Readiness Level (TRL) ranging from 6 to 9 by 2028, depending on the specific enabler.

Funding Amount: The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 26.6 million.

Application Type: The application type is a single-stage call for proposals.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant to support their projects.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be a single-stage process.

Success Rates: The success rate is not explicitly mentioned, but the text indicates that the granting authority can fund a maximum of one project under this topic.

Co-funding Requirement: Yes, there is a co-funding requirement. The funding rate is 60% of the eligible costs, and applicant private members of the EU-Rail part of consortia should provide in-kind contributions to additional activities. The amount of total in-kind contributions should be no less than 1.263 times the funding request, in aggregate, of these applicant Private Members.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe EU-Rail Joint Undertaking call, HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-FA4-01, focuses on developing a sustainable and green rail system. With a total budget of EUR 26.6 million, the call seeks to fund a flagship project that delivers innovative and resilient solutions by 2028. The project should address energy and CO2 savings, circular and sustainable solutions, and a healthier, safer, and more attractive railway system. The scope includes alternative energy for rolling stock, holistic energy management, sustainability and resilience in asset management, improvement of electro-mechanical components, and enhanced air quality and attractiveness of rail systems. Consortia must include rail infrastructure managers, railway undertakings, rail suppliers, research institutes, academia, SMEs, and start-ups. The funding rate is 60% of eligible costs, with private members expected to provide in-kind contributions. The application process is a single-stage submission, with a deadline of February 11, 2026. The project aims to contribute to the objectives of a Climate Neutral Europe by 2050 and to improve the overall sustainability and attractiveness of rail transport. The project duration is 30 months. The call emphasizes the importance of large-scale demonstrations and the delivery of relevant information to the JU and linked projects to advance the Innovation and System Pillars of the EU-Rail program. The project is expected to use the EU-RAIL System Pillar Cybersecurity specifications and contribute to the update of the EU-Rail Standardisation and TSIs input plan.