Innovation for regional rail services and new guided transport systems

EU‑Rail JU Call 2026-01 is a Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action offering a total indicative EU contribution of €6.1 million across two topics (€3.1 million for Innovation for Regional Rail Services and New Guided Transport Systems and €3.0 million for Safety and Certification Guidelines for Hyperloop). The call uses lump-sum grants, single-stage submission through the Funding & Tenders Portal with a Part B page limit of 70 pages, and key dates including opening 4 February 2026 and submission deadline 7 May 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time (Q&A deadline 23 April 2026). Eligible consortia must follow Horizon Europe participation rules, demonstrate European geographical representation and expertise, and align project activities with the EU‑Rail Work Programme, target TRL 4–6 outcomes, and provide dissemination, exploitation and data management plans. Projects must also contribute to EU‑Rail KPIs, interact with the System Pillar and support relevant standardisation activities.

Innovation for regional rail services and new guided transport systems

Call: EU-RAIL JU Call Proposals 2026-01 (HORIZON-JU-ER-2026-FA6FA7-01)

What this funds

Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) to develop lightweight modular regional rolling stock and an automated multi-modal pod-type mobility system. Work is organised in two main workstreams: (1) a Flagship Area 6 rolling-stock cluster (virtual design, component validation, scale-model and physical demonstrators; target TRL 4–6+), and (2) an automated multi-modal Mobility Management System and pod Carrier/Transport Unit/Handling system design, including PESTLE and business-case studies.

Funding form:Lump-sum grants under Horizon Europe (HORIZON-AG-LS). Proposals must include a detailed lump-sum budget table; payments are linked to completion of work packages ¹.

1. 1Type of action: HORIZON-JU-RIA (Research & Innovation Action)
2. 2Funding model: Lump-sum grant; work-package-based payments
3. 3TRL range targeted: minimum TRL 4, up to TRL 6 or higher depending on enabler
4. 4Project duration: Indicative 42 months (flexible)
5. 5Expected outcomes: 50% CAPEX/OPEX reductions for low-density lines (LCC perspective), vehicle weight/track-force reductions and validated pod-system architecture and business case

Who can apply

Multi‑partner consortia of legal entities from eligible countries as defined in the Horizon Europe General Annexes (EU Member States and associated countries). Projects are expected to involve academia, industry (incl. SMEs), operators and infrastructure managers to cover system integration, and to ensure European geographical representation.

Note: Members of the EU‑Rail private membership part of consortia must declare in‑kind contributions for additional activities; private members are required to provide aggregated in‑kind contributions at least 1.263 times their funding request, as specified in the topic conditions.

Deadlines and practicals

Single-stage submission. Opening: 04 February 2026. Deadline: 07 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Apply via the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Indicative budget and award:Total indicative budget for this topic is around €3.1 million (€3,100,000). The JU expects to fund a limited number of projects; the granting authority can fund a maximum of one project for this topic.

1. 1Call opens: 04 Feb 2026; Deadline: 07 May 2026 (single-stage)
2. 2Type of grant: lump-sum (HORIZON-AG-LS); use the detailed lump-sum budget Excel annex
3. 3Indicative topic budget: €3.1 million
4. 4Expected project duration: ~42 months (applicants may propose a different duration)
5. 5Applicants must follow the 70-page limit for Part B (RIA applications) and use the official templates

Footnotes

1. 1Guidance on lump-sum grants and the required detailed lump-sum budget template is available on the Funding & Tenders Portal (see also the Lump Sum guidance document). For general information and the application entry point use the official portal EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Innovation for regional rail services and new guided transport systems — HORIZON-JU-ER-2026-FA6FA7-01

Programme: EU-RAIL JU Call Proposals 2026-01 (HORIZON-JU-ER-2026-01). Type of action: HORIZON-JU-RIA (Research and Innovation Actions). Model Grant Agreement: HORIZON Lump Sum Grant. Opening date: 04 February 2026. Deadline: 07 May 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Official topic page and submission: EU Funding & Tenders Portal — Topic HORIZON-JU-ER-2026-FA6FA7-01. Call overview: Calls for proposals list (HORIZON-JU-ER-2026-01).

Purpose and Expected Outcomes

This topic aims to deliver sustainable, attractive and passenger-centred solutions for regional and suburban mobility by: 1) advancing lightweight, modular, and cost-efficient rolling stock for regional rail services (Flagship Area 6); and 2) maturing an automated multi-modal mobility system with moving infrastructures (Flagship Area 7), building on EU-Rail projects FP6-FutuRe and Pods4Rail and relevant Member State R&I. Activities are expected to reach a minimum of TRL 4 to TRL 6 (or higher where applicable) by project end, with certain analytical elements at lower TRL.

Workstream 1: Flagship Area 6 — Rolling Stock cluster

Objective: Develop a small, lightweight, modular regional railway vehicle, aligned with FP6-FutuRe results, tailored to G1 lines (significant mainline connection) and G2 lines (no/limited mainline connection), targeting major reductions in life-cycle CAPEX/OPEX and weight, while ensuring compatibility with capillary line constraints (poor superstructure, narrow curves, uneven track).

• Performance KPIs: aim for 50% reduction in CAPEX and OPEX (LCC perspective); weight reduction up to 30% at vehicle level and up to 60% on selected parts; track force reduction; tolerance to higher track unevenness.
• Virtual concept design (TRL4/5): carbody, running gear, and powertrain for G1 and G2, based on FP6-FutuRe D5.1 parameters and additional operator requirements; assess dual-use potential (civilian/military).
• Carbody: cost-effective, sustainable lightweight structures using multi-material design and fibre-reinforced polymers; focus on EN 12663 mechanical performance and EN 15227 crashworthiness; explore functionally integrated structures via 3D printing; compare G1 vs G2 design to identify lightweight/cost-saving opportunities; prototype virtual model of a selected component (e.g., front end cab) with innovative materials and sustainable tooling.
• Running gear: virtual model of steering and track-friendly, highly integrated motorised single-axle running gear with active suspensions, with/without compressed air, adapted for G1.
• Powertrain: virtual drivetrain including modular/scalable energy storage, hydrogen system, power electronics, traction machines, and range-extender solutions for G2; integrate variable auxiliaries (HVAC, compressed air) and define energy functions under different conditions (altitude, distance, temperature); interface with charging infrastructure.
• Safety and impact: apply appropriate safety assessment methods; quantify societal readiness benefits, weight and energy reductions, CAPEX/OPEX savings; support European standardisation for market uptake.
• Validation and demonstrations (up to intended environment): mechanical validation of a representative carbody structural section above the running gear with destructive bench tests (TRL4/5); physical demonstrator of a significant front end cab section with alternative materials (TRL4/5); vehicle dynamics validation of the single-axle running gear via 1:5 scale model on a scaled roller rig, including active wheelset steering benefits and correlation with simulations (TRL4/5); physical demonstration of a running gear with independent rotating wheels (TRL6); bench-tested battery-electric powertrain solutions, including range-extenders, traction machines, power electronics, storage and regenerative capacity under defined use cases (TRL4/5).

Workstream 2: Flagship Area 7 — Automated Multi-Modal Mobility-System with moving infrastructures

Objective: Further specify and mature an automated multi-modal pods system based on Pods4Rail. Focus on Carrier (rail, and with consideration of road and ropeway), Transport Units (TU), Handling System, and Mobility Management System (MMS) for autonomous operation in a multimodal environment. Conduct PESTLE analysis and integration concepts into existing networks.

• Carrier (TRL3): detailed specifications and interfaces for running gear, energy supply, drive technology, autonomous driving equipment; active vs passive safety study for structural and lightweight design; intermodal design validation for ropeway, road, rail carriers.
• Transport Unit (TU) (TRL3/4): studies on manufacturing (additive, sustainable materials); structural development/simulation for lightweight TU designs; validation of mechanical design, safety, ergonomics and user experience for one passenger TU (TRL4).
• Handling System (TRL3/4 to 5): detailed requirements for a multipurpose handling system; validation of loading scenarios in an industrially relevant environment including joint passenger and cargo TU loading, interface tolerances and coupling design using real-scale TU mock-up (TRL5).
• Mobility Management System and automation (TRL3/4): pods operational management and communications in intermodal environments (rail and road); digital maintenance planning for TU, Carrier, Handling Systems, storage and infrastructure, leveraging Flagship Area 3 results for asset condition and predictive maintenance; operational flow analysis for integrating pods in rail, road and ropeway networks.
• PESTLE, business and system architecture (TRL2+): design concepts for intermodal connectivity at stations, hubs and logistics hubs; industrial roadmap for TU; normative framework characterisation and boundary conditions building on Pods4Rail D3.1; updated economic analyses (revisiting Pods4Rail D4.3); quantitative business case studies (revisiting D5.1, D5.2); environmental impact assessment of pods integration into intermodal networks; system architecture including subsystems and interfaces (building on Pods4Rail D2.1), assessed against reliability, efficient handling, affordability, accessibility, comfort.

Relevant background projects and resources:FP6-FutuRe overview EU-Rail FP6-Future and deliverables FP6-FutuRe Deliverables. Pods4Rail project and deliverables Pods4Rail and Pods4Rail Deliverables.

Scope and Technology Readiness

Activities will normally reach TRL 4–6 by project end, depending on the enabler. Analytical and roadmap aspects within the PESTLE stream may start at TRL2. The action must demonstrate safety via recognized assessment methods, and quantify impacts (societal readiness, energy/weight reductions, CAPEX/OPEX savings). Results should feed European standardisation and the EU-Rail System Pillar Standardisation and TSI Input Plan (STIP).

Budget, Funding Rate and Duration

• Total indicative EU contribution for the topic: €3,100,000. Indicative number of grants: 1 (the granting authority can fund a maximum of one project).
• Indicative project duration: 42 months (other durations allowed if justified).
• Funding model: Lump Sum grant (HORIZON-AG-LS). Payments are linked to completion/acceptance of work packages; no reporting of actual costs; standard pre-financing, interim and final payments; no ex-post financial audits by CAS; qualitative/technical reviews remain applicable.
• Reimbursement rate: as per HORIZON-JU-RIA (typically up to 100% for beneficiaries; subject to standard Horizon Europe rules).
• EU-Rail Private Members in the consortium must provide in-kind contributions to additional activities (IKAA). Aggregate in-kind contributions must be at least 1.263 times their requested EU funding; these contributions are subject to annual deliverables and mandatory reporting.

Submission, Timeline and Q&A

• Submission: Single-stage, electronic submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal.
• Opening: 04 February 2026; Deadline: 07 May 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time.
• Page limit: 70 pages for Part B (RIA full application).
• Budget annex: detailed lump sum Excel budget table (with macros), to be uploaded as annex to Part B. If cost category C and/or D purchase costs exceed 15% of personnel costs for a participant, provide justification in the Excel sheet’s Any comments tab; also justify internally invoiced goods/services and in-kind contributions as applicable.
• Q&A releases: 20 February 2026 and 11 March 2026. Documents: Q&A Release 1 (20 Feb 2026); Q&A Release 2 (11 Mar 2026).
• Helpdesk: EU-RAIL JU Call Helpdesk info-call@rail-research.europa.eu (deadline for queries: 23 April 2026, 17:00 Brussels time). Partner search and announcements are available via the topic portal.

Evaluation, Linked Actions and System Pillar Interaction

• Evaluation criteria: Standard Horizon Europe criteria (Excellence, Impact, Quality and Efficiency of Implementation), complemented by EU-Rail Work Programme Annex VIII. Thresholds: standard HE thresholds apply.
• Award limitation: maximum one funded project for this topic.
• Legal and financial set-up: retroactive start date may be allowed from submission date if justified.
• Linked/Complementary projects: the funded action is expected to be complementary to FP6-FutuRe (GA 101101962) and Pods4Rail (GA 101121853), and to forthcoming actions under 2025 topics (FA1, FA2, FA3, FA4, FA6).
• System Pillar coordination: allocate resources for specification development and demonstrations aligned with the EU-Rail System Pillar; contribute to the EU-Rail Standardisation and TSI Input plan (STIP), technical specifications for interoperability (TSIs), and common safety methods; ensure regular interaction with System Pillar architecture work throughout the project lifecycle.

Eligibility, Consortium and Geographic Scope

• Eligible countries: As per Horizon Europe Annex B (EU Member States, Associated Countries; certain non-associated third countries may participate with or without funding depending on arrangements).
• Consortium: Standard Horizon Europe RIA eligibility applies (typically at least three independent legal entities, each established in a different EU Member State or Associated Country).
• Admissibility: as per Horizon Europe General Annexes, with the topic-specific Part B page limit noted above.
• Gender dimension: integration in R&I content is not mandatory for this topic.

Key Technical Requirements and Compliance

• Standards and compliance: EN 12663 (mechanical performance), EN 15227 (crashworthiness) for carbody where applicable.
• Safety assessment: adopt appropriate, recognised methods for the novel vehicle concept and subsystems; ensure consistency with EU safety frameworks.
• Energy and environment: quantify energy savings; consider integration with charging infrastructure; perform environmental impact assessment for the pods system.
• Interoperability and multimodality: ensure design interfaces across rail, road, and ropeway for FA7; consider compatibility with System Pillar architectures for regional rail (FA6).
• Data policy and digital compliance: adhere to EU Data Policy 2020 and relevant acts (Open Data Directive, Data Governance Act, Data Act, Interoperable Europe Act).
• Dissemination and communication: follow Europe’s Rail Communication and Dissemination Guidelines (EU-Rail Governance and Process Handbook).
• Monitoring: provide annual KPI outcomes contributing to Europe’s Rail Master Plan impacts; ensure resources for regular reporting and programme KPI data.

Templates, Forms and How to Apply

Application package and forms:Access the call package in the topic portal under Conditions and Documents: Application form Part B (HE EU-RAIL, RIA), detailed lump sum budget Excel, Evaluation form (HE EU-RAIL, RIA/IA), Model Grant Agreement and Lump Sum guidance. Key links: Lump sums — what do I need to know?; Lump Sum Decision.

Part B structure and page limit (70 pages):Excellence: objectives, ambition beyond state of the art, methodology (concepts, models, assumptions, inter-disciplinarity, gender dimension where relevant), open science practices, and quality of proposed joint activities. Impact: credible pathways to call outcomes and destination impacts, measures for dissemination, exploitation and communication, and specific contribution to EU-Rail Master Plan and MAWP KPIs. Implementation: work plan and resources (WPs, Gantt/Pert, deliverables, milestones, risk matrix), staff effort table, subcontracting and equipment justifications (notably where purchase costs exceed 15% of personnel costs), consortium capacity and roles, and project management structure including interactions with linked actions/System Pillar.

Mandatory and recommended annexes and tables:Detailed Lump Sum Budget Excel (with macros; upload as .xlsx or .xls); staff effort summary; subcontracting tasks table; major equipment justification table; dissemination and exploitation including communication plan (first version within the proposal and updated as a deliverable by month 6); Data Management Plan (deliverable by month 6). For financial support to third parties (if applicable), use the dedicated template: Information on financial support to third parties.

Lump sum budgeting essentials:Define cost estimations per beneficiary and per work package across standard categories (personnel, subcontracting, purchases, other categories). Ensure estimates approximate actual eligible costs under Horizon rules, align with normal practices, are reasonable and necessary. Justify in the Excel Any comments sheet where purchase costs (travel & subsistence, equipment, other goods/works/services) exceed 15% of personnel costs, where other categories are used, or where in-kind contributions are included. Splitting long-duration WPs across reporting periods is encouraged to enable interim payments upon acceptance of completed WPs.

Categorisation and Structured Information

Eligible Applicant Types:Universities; research institutes; SMEs; large enterprises (rolling stock, materials, automation, powertrain, energy storage, hydrogen technologies, composites, robotics); public transport operators and infrastructure managers; standardisation bodies and notified entities; technology providers in ICT/IoT, automation and digital twins; design and engineering firms; nonprofit organisations; NGOs in mobility and environment; public authorities; public-private partnerships; EU-Rail Private Members (subject to in-kind leverage requirements). Individuals are not eligible as standalone applicants; participation is via eligible organisations.

Funding Type:Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (RIA) under a Lump Sum Grant (HORIZON-AG-LS).

Consortium Requirement:Consortium. Standard Horizon Europe RIA minimum: at least three independent legal entities, each established in a different EU Member State or Associated Country. Broader, multi-actor consortia are encouraged to cover the full scope (vehicle design, materials, running gear, powertrain, modelling, testing, automation, MMS, intermodal integration, PESTLE, business modelling, standardisation).

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. Participation of other countries as per Annex B of the Work Programme; certain non-associated third countries may participate with funding subject to specific provisions or without EU funding. The topic expects sufficient European geographical representation of academia and expertise.

Target Sector:Transport and mobility (rail); rolling stock and vehicle engineering; energy and powertrains (battery, hydrogen, power electronics); advanced materials and composites; manufacturing and additive technologies; automation and control; ICT/software systems (MMS, predictive maintenance, digital twins); intermodal logistics and ropeway integration; sustainability and circular economy; safety and standardisation.

Mentioned Countries or Regions:European Union (EU); focus on EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. No specific third countries are named in the topic text; regionally, the call addresses European regional and suburban rail networks.

Project Stage (Maturity):Research, development, validation and demonstration. Target end TRL between 4 and 6 for most enablers, with some analytical/planning tasks at TRL 2–4 (e.g., PESTLE, roadmaps) and selected subsystem demos up to TRL 6.

Funding Amount:An indicative EU contribution of around €3.1 million is available for one grant under this topic. Actual awarded amount depends on evaluation and grant preparation within the available budget.

Application Type:Open call, single-stage, competitive evaluation.

Nature of Support:Financial support (grant). Non-financial support via guidance, helpdesks, and partner search services is also available through the Portal.

Application Stages:1 stage (single-stage submission and evaluation).

Success Rates:Not specified. The topic will fund a maximum of one project; competition is expected to be high.

Co-funding Requirement:For beneficiaries in general, standard Horizon Europe RIA funding rates apply (typically up to 100% of eligible costs, implemented via lump sum shares). For EU-Rail Private Members within the consortium, a leverage of in-kind contributions is mandatory: total in-kind contributions (operational + additional activities) must be at least 1.263 times their requested EU funding, with annual deliverables and reporting.

Evaluation and Award Specifics

• Award criteria and scoring per Horizon Europe (Excellence, Impact, Implementation), with EU-Rail call-specific additions in Annex VIII of the EU-Rail Work Programme 2026.
• Admissibility and eligibility as per Horizon Europe General Annexes; Part B page limit 70 pages.
• Lump sum budget assessments: experts may recommend adjustments without penalising scores if budgets are otherwise sound; serious issues in fitness-for-purpose or overestimation can reduce the Implementation score.
• Only one grant can be funded under this topic.

Key Performance Indicators and Policy Contribution

Proposals must plan to contribute data/results to the EU-Rail programme KPIs annually and up to four years after action end for standardisation-relevant outputs. The action should support TSIs and standards evolution (e.g., potential impacts on TSI LOC&PAS through weight reduction inputs) and EU policy implementation related to interoperability and safety.

Indicative Proposal Outline (Part B) — Practical Template Guide

1. 1Excellence (approx. 15–20 pages): Objectives linked to FA6/FA7 scope and KPIs; ambition beyond FP6-FutuRe/Pods4Rail; detailed methodology including virtual modelling, materials, powertrain energy models, safety assessments, MMS and automation logic, TRL pathway; interdisciplinary integration (materials, rail dynamics, ICT); open science practices (data, software, models); quality of joint activities across carbody, running gear, powertrain, MMS, PESTLE.
2. 2Impact (approx. 8–10 pages): Pathways to outcomes (CAPEX/OPEX reduction, weight/energy savings, intermodal integration, business cases); D&E&C plan (stakeholder mapping across rail operators, IMs, OEMs, logistics, ropeway/road providers, standardisation bodies; timing; channels; KPIs); exploitation strategy (foreground protection, freedom-to-operate, standardisation contributions); contribution to EU-Rail Master Plan and MAWP impacts and KPIs; policy inputs (TSIs, Common Safety Methods).
3. 3Implementation (approx. 25–30 pages): Work Plan with WPs mapped to TRLs and deliverables; Gantt and Pert; Milestones and Go/No-Go; Risk matrix including technical (e.g., weight targets, dynamic stability), regulatory (e.g., TSI compatibility), and market (e.g., TU adoption) with mitigations; Staff effort table by WP/partner; Subcontracting and major equipment justifications; Consortium roles and complementarity (vehicle, materials, dynamics, energy systems, automation, MMS, human factors, economics, LCA, PESTLE, standardisation); Management and quality assurance; Interaction plan with EU-Rail System Pillar and linked actions; Ethical, security and data management considerations.

What This Opportunity Is About — Summary

This EU-Rail Joint Undertaking topic funds a single, integrated RIA project to transform regional and suburban rail mobility and to mature novel multi-modal guided transport concepts. On the rolling stock side (FA6), the project must virtualise and validate a lightweight, modular regional vehicle tailored to capillary lines, achieving step-change reductions in life-cycle costs and weight while ensuring safety, dynamic stability and energy performance. It should convert virtual designs into targeted physical validations at component and subsystem level (carbody sections, running gear, powertrain), and quantify societal, environmental, and economic benefits, feeding European standards and TSIs.

On the multi-modal side (FA7), the project will specify and validate core subsystems of an automated pods ecosystem (Carrier, Transport Units, Handling System, Mobility Management System) for operation across rail and connections to road and ropeway. It will design intermodal interfaces, conduct a full PESTLE analysis, refine business and environmental cases, and deliver a coherent system architecture and roadmap. Cross-cutting, the project must align with the EU-Rail System Pillar, supply standardisation-ready outputs via the STIP, comply with EU data and interoperability frameworks, and report annually on KPIs.

With an indicative budget of €3.1 million and a 42-month indicative duration, the grant uses the Horizon Europe Lump Sum model. Proposers must present a credible, tightly integrated plan across vehicle engineering, materials, dynamics, energy systems, digital automation, human factors, economics and policy, with clear TRL progress, robust safety assessments, and a strong dissemination, standardisation and exploitation pathway. Only one project will be funded, so competitive, comprehensive consortia spanning the full scope – from virtual concept to sub-system validation and intermodal integration – are strongly encouraged.

EU-RAIL JU Call for Proposals 2026-01: Innovation for Regional Rail Services and New Guided Transport Systems

Funding Opportunity Overview

The Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail JU) has launched Call 2026-01 with a total EU contribution of €6.1 million, comprising two complementary topics addressing the transformation of European rail transport. The call supports research and innovation activities focused on developing sustainable, cost-efficient rolling stock for regional lines and advancing automated multi-modal mobility systems with innovative guided transport technologies.

Call Details and Submission Information

Call Identifier:HORIZON-JU-ER-2026-01 (also referenced as EU-RAIL JU Call Proposals 2026-01)

Opening Date:4 February 2026

Deadline for Submission:7 May 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Deadline for submitting questions to the Q&A mailbox is 23 April 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time.

Total EU Contribution Available:€6.1 million across two topics: HORIZON-JU (€3.1 million) and HORIZON-JU-ER-2026-FA7-01 (€3.0 million)

Type of Action:Research and Innovation Action (RIA)

Type of Grant Agreement:Lump Sum Grant. Applicants propose the lump sum amount based on estimated direct and indirect costs. No actual cost reporting or financial audits are required. Payments depend on completion of work packages, not on achieved outcomes.

Funding Amounts and Conditions

The call offers two distinct topics with indicative budgets. The granting authority can fund a maximum of one project per topic. Eligible costs take the form of lump sum contributions based on estimated direct and indirect project costs. The funding rate is 100 percent of the eligible costs. Applicants must demonstrate that cost estimations are approximations of actual costs and meet Horizon Europe eligibility criteria.

Topic 1 - Innovation for Regional Rail Services and New Guided Transport Systems HORIZON-JU:€3.1 million indicative budget with indicative project duration of 42 months

Topic 2 - Safety and Certification Guidelines and Demonstration of Safety Components for Hyperloop (HORIZON-JU-ER-2026-FA7-01):€3.0 million indicative budget

Private Members of the EU-Rail JU must provide in-kind contributions to additional activities. The total amount of in-kind contributions must be no less than 1.263 times the funding request from these Private Members. These contributions must be declared via a template model available on the Funding and Tenders Portal.

Eligibility and Applicant Requirements

Participation is open to all eligible entities in accordance with Horizon Europe rules and the EU-Rail Work Programme. Eligible countries include EU Member States, Associated Countries, and other non-EU/non-Associated Countries with specific provisions for funding availability as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Special Consortium Requirements:Proposals must demonstrate sufficient European geographical representation of academia and ensure that all expertise reflects special skills and capabilities expected from applicants. Consortia should involve relevant European railway stakeholders including infrastructure managers, railway undertakings, research institutions, and industry partners to deliver integrated research and innovation activities.

Exceptional Funding for Third-Country Participants:Non-EU/non-Associated Country entities may exceptionally receive funding if participation is essential due to outstanding expertise, access to unique know-how, critical infrastructure, particular geographical environments, or other compelling justification approved by evaluators.

Proposal Requirements and Admissibility

Proposal Format and Page Limit:Proposals must be submitted in a single stage using the standard Horizon Europe application form. Proposals consist of Part A (generated by the IT system with participant information) and Part B (narrative technical description uploaded as PDF). The page limit for Part B is 70 pages maximum, including title, participant list, and all three evaluation criterion sections (Excellence, Impact, Implementation).

Lump Sum Budget Table:Applicants must complete and upload a detailed lump sum budget table (Excel file) as an annex to Part B. This table provides cost estimations for each cost category per beneficiary and per work package. The budget table must be saved in .xlsx or .xls format (not .xlsm) for submission due to security requirements.

Mandatory Deliverables:Selected projects must provide a detailed plan for dissemination and exploitation including communication activities within 6 months of grant agreement signature. A data management plan is also required within the first 6 months to ensure research outputs are findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR).

Evaluation Criteria and Process

Proposals are evaluated by independent experts using standard Horizon Europe evaluation criteria. The evaluation follows a single-stage submission procedure, with evaluation results determining funding decisions.

Evaluation Criteria:Excellence (threshold: 3/5): clarity and pertinence of objectives, advancement beyond state-of-the-art, soundness of methodology, quality of joint activities. Impact (threshold: 3/5): credibility of pathways to achieve expected outcomes, quality of dissemination and exploitation measures, contribution to EU-Rail Master Plan objectives. Quality and Efficiency of Implementation (threshold: 3/5): quality of work plan and resources, consortium capacity and expertise, appropriateness of management structure.

Overall Threshold:Minimum overall threshold is 10 points across the three evaluation criteria (no individual weightings applied)

For lump sum proposals, expert evaluators assess whether cost estimations are reasonable and non-excessive, and whether proposed resources and budget allocation allow completion of described activities. Serious problems with budget fitness may lead to decreased implementation scores. Recommendations on budget adjustments are recorded in evaluation reports but do not affect the score.

Topic Focus Areas and Expected Outcomes

Topic 1: Innovation for Regional Rail Services and New Guided Transport Systems

This topic combines two work streams addressing different aspects of European rail innovation. Workstream 1 focuses on developing lightweight, cost-efficient rolling stock for regional rail lines, while Workstream 2 addresses development of automated multi-modal mobility systems with moving infrastructures.

Workstream 1 - Flagship Area 6 Rolling Stock Cluster:Develop lightweight modular regional vehicles for both G1 lines (regional lines with significant mainline connection) and G2 lines (regional lines with limited or no mainline connection). Key performance targets include 50 percent reduced capital and operating expenditure, up to 60 percent weight reduction for specific vehicle parts, and up to 30 percent overall vehicle weight reduction. Activities include virtual concept design for car body, running gear, and powertrain components; development and testing of lightweight performance; and demonstration of innovative materials and technologies (TRL4-6).

Workstream 2 - Automated Multi-Modal Mobility-System:Further develop an automated multi-modal mobility system design based on Pods4Rail project results. Focus areas include detailed specification of Carrier components (running gear, energy supply, autonomous driving equipment); development and simulation of Transport Units using sustainable lightweight materials; design of multipurpose handling systems; development of Mobility Management System for intermodal operations; and comprehensive PESTLE analysis for system feasibility (TRL3-5).

Expected Technology Readiness Level Achievement:Activities are expected to achieve minimum TRL4-6 by project end, depending on specific enabler addressed, representing significant advancement from earlier development stages

Topic 2: Safety and Certification Guidelines for Hyperloop

This topic addresses development of safety requirements, methodologies, and certification guidelines for hyperloop and other unconventional fast track-bound transport systems. Activities focus on establishing functional validation approaches for safety components within regulatory frameworks.

Strategic Alignment and System Pillar Integration

All projects funded under this call must align with the EU-Rail integrated Research and Innovation programme, which comprises the System Pillar (defining unified operational concepts and functional system architecture) and the Innovation Pillar (delivering operational and technological solutions). Projects must actively contribute to achieving EU-Rail Master Plan objectives and expected impacts defined in the Multi-Annual Work Programme.

System Pillar Interactions:Projects should allocate necessary resources dedicated to System Pillar interaction for specification development and demonstration activities. Work related to the regional rail architecture and integrated demonstration concept should coordinate with actions funded under HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-FA6-01. Projects must contribute to updating the EU-Rail Standardisation and TSI Input Plan and support development of Technical Specifications for Interoperability, particularly regarding weight reduction impacts on relevant TSIs.

Linked Projects:Funded actions are complementary to ongoing Flagship Projects FP6-FutuRe (GA 101101962) and FP7-Pods4Rail (GA 101121853), as well as to actions funded under other Flagship Areas. Proposals should clearly describe coordination mechanisms and information exchange with these linked actions.

Key Performance Indicators and Monitoring

Workstream 1 must actively contribute to measuring and monitoring specific quantitative Key Performance Indicators as defined in the expected impact section, including contribution to Europe's Rail Master Plan impacts. Outcomes are to be delivered annually by each calendar year end. Consortia should ensure that project outputs feed relevant information and results to the JU and Linked Projects to contribute to advancement of Innovation and System Pillars, and to development and implementation of EU policy and legislation including Technical Specifications for Interoperability and Common Safety Methods.

Dissemination, Exploitation, and Communication Requirements

Proposals must include a first version of the plan for dissemination and exploitation including communication activities. This is an admissibility condition. Selected projects must develop a detailed plan within 6 months of grant agreement signature, which shall be periodically updated in alignment with project progress. Communication measures should promote the project throughout its full lifespan, with strategic planning, clear objectives, and concrete actions both during and after project completion.

Standardisation Contribution:Projects should contribute to European standardisation activities. Beneficiaries must inform EU-Rail (up to four years after action end) if results can reasonably be expected to contribute to European or international standards.

Data Management and Open Science:Projects must comply with EU Data Policy 2020 and associated legal instruments, including the Open Data Directive, Data Governance Act, Data Act, and Interoperable Europe Act. All data management must ensure FAIR principles are met.

Grant Agreement Preparation and Management

Lump sum grant agreements include Annex 2 specifying the breakdown of lump sum shares per beneficiary and per work package. This breakdown is fixed in the grant agreement based on the proposal evaluation. No negotiation occurs on the basis of actual costs. Starting dates may be retroactive from the submission date if justified by applicants, with costs incurred from the starting date considered eligible.

Work Package Completion and Payments:Lump sum contributions per work package are paid upon proper implementation of work packages in accordance with Annex 1 of the grant agreement, provided all other grant agreement obligations are met. Payments are made per reporting period for completed work packages. Incomplete work packages can be completed and paid in subsequent reporting periods. Pre-financing follows standard Horizon Europe rules. Between 5-8 percent of total lump sum is retained as contribution to Mutual Insurance Mechanism.

Budget Flexibility:Consortia can use budget as they see fit provided the project is implemented as agreed. Budget transfers between work packages are possible if work packages are not already completed and declared in financial statements, and if justified by technical and scientific implementation needs. Transfers require amendment if consortia want to reflect them in the grant agreement.

Support Resources and Contact Information

EU-RAIL JU Call Helpdesk:info-call@rail-research.europa.eu. Deadline for addressing queries via Q&A functional mailbox is 23 April 2026 at 17:00 Brussels Local Time. Questions and answers are published regularly on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal and the EU-Rail website.

Key Information Resources:EU-Rail Work Programme 2026, Master Plan, Multi-Annual Work Programme, Call for Proposals page with all conditions and documents, Online Manual on Funding and Tenders Portal, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, National Contact Points for country-specific guidance, European Standards Organisations helpdesks for standardisation advice.

Information Day:Europe's Rail Info Day for Call 2026-01 was held on 9 February 2026 from 9:30 to 12:00 CET. Recording and detailed information available on EU-Rail website. Participants can use B2Match networking platform from 4 February until call deadline (7 May 2026) to express interest in topics, schedule bilateral meetings, and expand consortia.

Additional Important Notes

Projects must comply with Horizon Europe framework rules and the EU-Rail governance structure. Gender dimension analysis may not be mandatory for this specific topic but should be considered where relevant. The call emphasizes the need for sustainable, cost-efficient solutions addressing climate change, digital transformation, and European competitiveness in the railway sector.