Rail – studies, works or mixed

This CEF 2 Transport call CEF-T-2026 funds studies, works or mixed projects to develop rail infrastructure on the TEN-T core network, prioritising cross-border and missing links, multimodal interconnections and high-speed rail integration. The combined call budget is €350,000,000 (shared with inland waterways) with maximum EU contributions capped at €30 million for single Member State projects, €70 million for two Member State projects and €100 million for projects involving more than two Member States; funding rates are up to 50 percent for studies and typically up to 30 percent for rail works (higher rates apply for inland waterways and outermost regions). Eligible applicants are organisations established in EU Member States and associated countries, proposals must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal by 6 October 2026 and include mandatory annexes such as the detailed budget per work package, environmental compliance file and required cost-benefit analysis. Projects must comply with Directive (EU) 2016/797 and relevant TSIs and ensure non-discriminatory access to supported infrastructure.

Call and purpose

What this funds

Works and/or studies to develop rail infrastructure on the TEN-T core network:construction or upgrading of cross-border and missing links; interconnections between rail and other modes (inland waterway, maritime, port hinterlands) and projects integrating high-speed rail with air feeder networks. Priority for high-speed rail. Facilities must be accessible non-discriminatorily by all operators.

Excluded from support:standalone railway stations (only infrastructure components inside stations can be funded as separate work packages), track-side ERTMS deployment, electronic interlockings, Class A radio communication systems (5G/FRMCS/GSM-R), Class B systems, and rolling stock.

Funding available:Indicative call envelope €350 000 000 for 2026. Funding rates (max): studies up to 50%; works up to 30% (inland waterways works up to 50%; works in outermost regions up to 70%). Cross-border works may be eligible for higher rates. Maximum EU contribution per grant: €30M single MS, €70M two MS, €100M more than two MS ¹

Who can apply

Legal entities (public or private) established in eligible countries (EU Member States and countries associated to CEF). International organisations and certain third-country entities may be exceptionally eligible. Natural persons are not eligible except self-employed where no separate legal personality exists.

Consortia and documentation highlights

Applications can be single-beneficiary or multi-beneficiary. All participants must be registered in the Participant Register (PIC/LEAR validation). Required submission documents include Application Form Parts A and B, detailed budget table per WP, timetable/Gantt, letters of support (Member State agreements), environmental compliance file and CBA (full or simplified depending on works budget). Proposals limited to 120 pages (Part B).

Key deadlines and process:Call opened 18 June 2026. Submission deadline 06 October 2026 (17:00 CET). Single-stage submission; evaluation October–March 2027, grant signature expected May–June 2027.

1. 1Eligible activities: construction/upgrading of cross-border/missing links; multimodal interconnections; integration of high-speed rail and air feeder networks.
2. 2Not funded: standalone stations (except infrastructure components in separate WP), track-side ERTMS, electronic interlockings, Class A/ Class B radio and rolling stock.
3. 3Project size guidance: recommended minimum requested EU contribution ~€1 000 000; caps apply (€30M/€70M/€100M) and projects exceeding caps are ineligible.

Apply and submit electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page. For help contact CINEA-CEF-TRANSPORT-CALLS@ec.europa.eu or consult the call documentation and Portal Online Manual. Proposals must comply with Directive (EU) 2016/797 and relevant TSI for rail interoperability.

Footnotes

1. 1Call fiche and full call documentation, including budget and application templates, available on the Portal topic page CEF-T-2026-COREGEN-RAIL-WORKS.

High-level summary

This is a competitive, open call for proposals under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF 2 Transport) 2021-2027 Work Programme. Topic CEF-T-2026 funds studies, works or mixed projects that develop rail transport infrastructure on the TEN-T core network. Activities supported include construction or upgrading of cross-border and missing links, interconnections between rail and other transport modes (including port hinterland links and inland waterway connections), and projects integrating high-speed rail with air networks to improve sustainability of feeder networks. Support excludes most station works (except railway infrastructure components presented separately), track-side ERTMS, electronic interlockings, Class A radio components (5G/FRMCS/GSM-R), Class B systems and rolling stock. Projects must comply with Directive (EU) 2016/797 and related Technical Specifications for Interoperability and must ensure non-discriminatory access to infrastructure.

Call identifier and important dates:CEF-T-2026 under the CEF 2 Transport - Projects on the Core Network (General envelope). Call opening: 18 June 2026. Submission deadline: 06 October 2026 (17:00 CET). Budget for topic: part of €350 000 000 allocated for the call (see section Budget Overview). Submission model: single-stage electronic submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Evaluation: single-stage evaluation with individual assessments, consensus and panel review, results expected April 2027; grant signature expected May/June 2027 ¹.

Eligibility and applicants

Eligible Applicant Types

Legal entities (public or private) established in eligible countries may apply as beneficiaries. Eligible applicant types typically include public bodies, national/regional authorities, infrastructure managers, port authorities, transport operators (as beneficiaries or associated partners where allowed), private companies (including SMEs), universities and research organisations, international organisations and NGOs where relevant. Natural persons are generally NOT eligible except self-employed persons where the company has no legal personality. EU bodies (except the Commission’s Joint Research Centre) cannot be beneficiaries. Associated partners, subcontractors and third parties giving in-kind contributions may participate but have specific roles and restrictions.

Exceptional participation:Entities from other countries may be exceptionally eligible when their participation is essential to implement a project of common interest. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures or conditionality measures (e.g. under Regulation 2020/2092) are ineligible.

Consortium Requirement

The topic does not mandate a specific minimum consortium composition in the topic text provided, so both single-beneficiary and multi-beneficiary proposals are acceptable where applicable. Joint cross-border projects are common and recommended for cross-border sections; joint applications demonstrate coordination and facilitate higher funding rates for some cross-border works. If a project involves cross-border links, a joint application is strongly recommended (single-applicant proposals must demonstrate commitment of other countries involved).

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility)

Eligible applicants must be established in eligible countries:EU Member States (including Overseas Countries and Territories where relevant) and countries associated to the CEF Programme. Projects must be implemented in eligible countries / target countries as defined in the Call document. For the purpose of this call, projects located on the extended core network are not eligible; only TEN-T core network sections are in scope.

Mentioned Countries / Region:The call is pan-EU: references in the call documentation are to EU Member States and countries associated to the CEF programme. No individual non-EU countries are listed in the topic description; the geographic scope is the TEN-T core network across eligible/associated countries (EU region).

Funding and financial terms

Funding Type

This is an EU action grant (budget-based actual cost grant) managed under the CEF Action Grant Budget-Based model (CEF-AG). The grant reimburses eligible actual costs according to funding rates and rules fixed in the Grant Agreement (Model Grant Agreement applies).

Available budget and funding scale:The indicative total call envelope reported for the combined rail and inland waterways topics is €350 000 000 (2026 budget mapping). The Agency reserves the right to exceed the indicative envelope following the Work Programme flexibility or not to award all available funds. Individual project caps: maximum EU contribution per grant agreement is capped at €30 000 000 for projects located in a single Member State, €70 000 000 for projects located in two Member States and €100 000 000 for projects located in more than two Member States. Applicants are strongly encouraged to request at least €1 000 000 of EU contribution where possible. Proposals requesting amounts above the caps will be declared ineligible.

Funding / Co-funding rates and restrictions

Funding is budget-based and reimburses eligible costs actually incurred. The maximum reimbursement rates (subject to Grant Agreement Data Sheet) are: up to 50% for studies; up to 30% for works (general); up to 50% for inland waterways works; up to 70% for works located in outermost regions. Higher funding rates (e.g. up to 50% for certain works) may apply for cross-border links in line with CEF regulation provisions. VAT is not eligible. Land purchases are not eligible. Financial support to third parties is not allowed for this topic (unless explicitly authorised in Call document — in this topic it is not).

Co-funding requirement:yes. Projects must show complementary resources (national/regional budgets, own resources, other grants or third-party finance). The grant will not cover the full cost of most works; applicants must secure remaining financing. Applicants must demonstrate stable and sufficient resources and will be subject to financial capacity checks where applicable.

What can be funded (Scope / Eligible activities)

Eligible activities:studies, works or mixed proposals for rail projects on the TEN-T core network. Specifically: construction and upgrading of cross-border and missing links; interconnections between rail and inland waterway and maritime transport (including port hinterland connections); measures to integrate high-speed rail and air networks (feeder connectivity to reduce aviation emissions). Priority will be given to high-speed rail projects aligned with the Commission communication on high-speed rail. Mandatory interoperability compliance with Directive (EU) 2016/797 and TSI is required. If studies and works are combined in one proposal they must address different sections/activities. Facilities/ infrastructure supported under CEF must be accessible to all operators on a non-discriminatory basis.

Ineligible activities:track-side ERTMS deployment, electronic interlockings and/or Class A radio communication components (5G/FRMCS/GSM-R), activities related to Class B systems, rolling stock, and most railway station works (station infrastructure components may be funded only if presented as a separate work package and only to the extent they are railway infrastructure components).

Project maturity and stage expectations

Project Stage:the call evaluates maturity explicitly. Eligible projects may be studies, preparatory steps, or works implementation. The maturity award criterion requires proposals to demonstrate readiness to start by the proposed date and complete by the proposed end date, the status of contracting and permits, and availability of co-financing. Maximum project durations: studies must be completed by 31/12/2029; works by 31/12/2030 (project starting date and duration will be set in the Grant Agreement).

Evaluation and selection

Submission model:single-stage electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Evaluation procedure: one-stage submission followed by a one-step evaluation with phases: formal admissibility and eligibility checks, operational capacity checks (where applicable), three evaluation phases (individual evaluation, consensus, panel review) followed by ranking. Award criteria: Priority & Urgency (5 pts), Maturity (5 pts), Quality (5 pts), Impact (5 pts), Catalytic effect (5 pts). Individual thresholds per criterion: 3/5; overall threshold: 15/25. The evaluation result letter will indicate whether the proposal is recommended for grant preparation, put on reserve list or rejected. Invitation to grant preparation is not a formal award; final checks (legal entity validation, financial capacity, exclusion, etc.) are required before signature.

Application Stages (how many assessment steps to obtain funding):Single-stage submission followed by evaluation involving three expert evaluation steps (individual evaluation, consensus phase, panel review). If successful: grant preparation (dialogue to finalise grant agreement including legal & financial checks) then signature. In practical terms, applicants pass through: 1) submission, 2) formal admissibility & eligibility checks, 3) evaluation scoring phases, 4) grant preparation (due diligence), 5) signature and implementation. Many applicants consider this effectively a 2-phase decision (evaluation then grant preparation).

Application process details and templates

Submission:proposals MUST be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal (no paper submissions). Part A (administrative data) is filled online. Part B (technical description) must use the Portal template (download, complete, assemble and re-upload as PDF). Annexes must also use the templates available in the Submission System and be uploaded in the correct slots. Proposals are limited to 120 pages for Part B and must include all mandatory annexes; missing annexes will render proposals inadmissible.

Required templates and supporting documents (available in Submission System):Standard mandatory templates and annexes for this topic include: Standard application form (Part A & Part B template), Detailed budget table per Work Package (Excel), Letter of support / Member State agreement template, Timetable (Gantt Chart) template, Simplified CBA calculator (for works below €10 million) and Full CBA cash flow template (for works/mixed with work component eligible costs above €10 million), Environmental Compliance File template (ECF), Activity reports (unless exempt), List of previous projects template, Proofs for legal entity validation, and the Application Form annexes described in the call. Specific guidance documents: CEF Regulation 2021/1153, TEN-T Regulation 2024/1679, CINEA Guide for Economic Appraisal for CEF Projects, DG REGIO CBA Vademecum, EU Financial Regulation and EU Grants Annotated Model Grant Agreement. Applicants must use the application form templates inside the Submission System (not the example documents on the topic page).

Technical appraisal and cost-benefit analysis (CBA) requirements

Works and mixed proposals with work component eligible costs above €10 000 000 must submit a full Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) report and the full CBA cash-flow template. Works and mixed proposals below €10 000 000 must submit the simplified CBA calculator. Studies without physical interventions still require environmental compliance file completion as applicable. The CINEA Guide on economic appraisal for CEF-T Transport Projects and DG REGIO CBA Vademecum provide mandatory methodological requirements. The CBA must adopt incremental analysis, separate economic and financial analysis, include demand analysis, sensitivity testing and cover the full economic life/reference period. Climate-related externalities should be monetised in line with CEF guidance. Historical costs already incurred for necessary components must be capitalised and included in the reference year cash flow.

Operational and financial capacity checks

Applicants must demonstrate stable and sufficient financial resources and operational capacity to implement the project. Financial capacity checks apply unless the beneficiary is a public body, Member State organisation, international organisation or the individual requested grant is <= €60 000. If financial capacity is insufficient, additional measures may be requested (prefinancing guarantees, joint & several liability, staged prefinancing, additional conditions) or proposals may be rejected. Operational capacity is assessed through activity reports and lists of key projects; public bodies and beneficiaries of previous CEF grants may be exempt from some checks.

Reporting, payments and contractual arrangements

Grants are budget-based actual cost grants. Payments:prefinancing (normally between 25% and 50%) is paid after grant signature and any required prefinancing guarantee entry into force. Interim payments (based on detailed reporting) and final payment (balance) are subject to cost eligibility and performance. The coordinator receives all payments and distributes them. Project deliverables, milestones and reporting frequencies are defined in Annex I and the Grant Agreement. Project management costs should not exceed 10% of total project costs. VAT is ineligible. Prefinancing guarantees may be required from the coordinator and will be released under contract conditions. Specific liability regime for recoveries (joint and several, limited joint and several or individual financial responsibility) will be set in the Grant Agreement.

Application type and portal

Application Type:Open call, single-stage submission through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System. Applicants must register organisations in the Participant Register (PIC) and use EU Login accounts. Submission is an online two-step process (register organisation, submit proposal). The Submission System provides the correct Part B, annex templates, and the detailed budget table per Work Package Excel file to upload as annex. IT Helpdesk and call mailbox (CINEA-CEF-TRANSPORT-CALLS@ec.europa.eu) are available for support.

Success rates and competitiveness

The call document does not publish historic numerical success rates for this topic. Success depends on meeting eligibility and admissibility, passing individual award-criteria thresholds (minimum 3/5 on each criterion and overall minimum 15/25), ranking and available budget. As usual for large infrastructure calls, competition is expected to be strong and proposals should score highly across Priority & Urgency, Maturity, Quality, Impact and Catalytic effect to be fundable.

Evaluation award criteria (detailed)

Award criteria and scoring (maximum 25 points):Priority & Urgency (5 points): alignment with sectoral priorities, EU added value and synergies. Maturity (5 points): readiness to start/complete, permit and contracting status, financing readiness. Quality (5 points): technical & financial implementation, design, organisation, risk analysis, quality management, maintenance strategy. Impact (5 points): economic, social and environmental impacts including climate impacts, results of CBA or robust forecasts, interoperability, digitalisation or innovation, cross-border dimension. Catalytic effect (5 points): ability of EU funds to unlock or accelerate investments, leverage private or other public funds and overcome market failures. Minimum thresholds: 3/5 per criterion and 15/25 overall.

Important compliance and supporting files

1. 1Detailed budget table per Work Package (mandatory; Excel) — budget amounts must match online Part A summary (online Prevails if discrepancy)
2. 2Timetable / Gantt chart (mandatory)
3. 3Letters of support / Member State agreements (mandatory when required; template provided)
4. 4Environmental Compliance File (ECF) — mandatory for all applications under this call; includes EIA, SEA, Habitats and Water Framework Directive compliance sections as applicable
5. 5Full CBA report and full CBA cash-flow template for works/mixed with work eligible costs > €10 000 000; Simplified CBA calculator for works/mixed with work eligible costs <= €10 000 000
6. 6Activity reports, list of previous projects (unless exempt), CVs where required
7. 7Documents for Legal Entity Validation and financial capacity: financial statements, audit reports, bank account documentation (to be provided during grant preparation if invited).

Administrative and admissibility notes:Part B is limited to 120 pages. All documents must be readable, accessible and printable. Applicants must confirm they have the mandate to act for all participants and sign a declaration of honour before grant signature. Proposals submitted to multiple Calls/Topics with the same scope will be declared ineligible. Twinned proposals (shared scope across calls) must be cross-referenced in Part A and Part B.

How to apply — practical checklist

1. 1Register organisation(s) in the Participant Register (PIC). Ensure Legal Entity Appointed Representative (LEAR) and contacts are in place.
2. 2Assemble consortium and confirm mandates and letters of support (as needed from Member States for cross-border sections).
3. 3Download the specific Part B template and all annex templates from the Submission System and complete them following the call-specific instructions.
4. 4Prepare and complete the Detailed Budget Table per WP Excel file; ensure consistency between online Part A and Excel annex.
5. 5Prepare CBA: simplified or full depending on work eligible cost threshold; use CINEA and DG REGIO guidance and provided templates (full CBA cash flow template or simplified CBA calculator).
6. 6Complete Environmental Compliance File and supporting declarations for Natura 2000/water as required.
7. 7Upload all documents into the correct submission slots in the Portal Submission System and validate forms; submit before the deadline and retain the signed confirmation PDF.
8. 8If invited to grant preparation, provide additional legal and financial verification documents and be prepared for grant negotiation and possible prefinancing guarantees.

Support resources:Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual and Topic Q&A on the Portal; call-specific documents (Call Document, Model Grant Agreement, Templates, CINEA guidance on economic appraisal). For help: CINEA-CEF-TRANSPORT-CALLS@ec.europa.eu and IT Helpdesk for Portal technical issues.

Concluding summary — What is this opportunity about and how to approach it?

This CEF 2 Transport call topic funds rail infrastructure studies and works on the TEN-T core network to improve cross-border continuity, multimodal interconnections and high-speed rail integration. It targets infrastructure owners, public authorities, transport infrastructure managers, port authorities and consortiums that can deliver technical, financial and environmental readiness. Projects must show interoperability compliance, environmental assessment, clear maturity (permits, procurement readiness, financing), a robust CBA when required, and non-discriminatory access arrangements. Applicants should assemble complete technical Part B documentation, the detailed budget per work package, environmental compliance file, Member State letters of support if relevant, and CBA deliverables. Funding is a budget-based grant with defined maximum funding rates and project caps. The call is competitive and requires strong demonstration of priority alignment, technical quality, maturity, socio-economic impact and catalytic leverage of EU funds. Applications are submitted online via the Funding & Tenders Portal and will be assessed against strict eligibility and award criteria; successful proposals pass evaluation and then complete legal, financial and administrative checks before grant signature.

Footnotes

1. 1Call document and timeline details are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page CEF-T-2026 and in the Call fiche and Call document published by CINEA: CEF call page

What This Funding Supports

This call supports the development of rail transport infrastructure projects on the TEN-T core network, focusing on cross-border and missing links, interconnections with inland waterway and maritime transport (including port hinterland connections), and integration of high-speed rail with air networks to make feeder networks for long-haul flights more sustainable ¹. Priority is given to projects fostering high-speed rail development ².

Ineligible Activities:Support is excluded for railway stations (except infrastructure components presented as separate work packages), track-side ERTMS deployment, electronic interlockings, Class A radio communication (5G/FRMCS/GSM-R), Class B systems, and rolling stock ².

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants are organizations based in EU Member States and associated countries including Moldova and Ukraine ¹. Consortiums are not required, allowing single entities to submit proposals ¹. Projects must comply with Directive (EU) 2016/797 and Technical Specifications for Interoperability ².

Key Funding Details

Application Requirements

Proposals must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal; paper submissions are not accepted ². The application (Part B) is limited to a maximum of 120 pages ². Applicants must include a Member State Agreement (Letter of Support), detailed budget table per work package, Gantt chart timetable, environmental compliance file, and full CBA cash flow template ².

Environmental Compliance:Projects must demonstrate compliance with the EIA Directive (2011/92/EU), SEA Directive (2001/42/EC), Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), and Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), including declarations by competent authorities ².

Important Conditions

1. 1Facilities and infrastructure must be accessible to all operators on a non-discriminatory basis ²
2. 2Projects combining studies and works must address different sections or activities ²
3. 3Cross-border projects require written agreements between Member States or with neighboring countries ³
4. 4Projects must demonstrate European added value and be economically viable via socio-economic cost-benefit analysis ³

For assistance, contact CINEA-CEF-TRANSPORT-CALLS@ec.europa.eu ². The primary source for submission is the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Link CEF Topic Page.

Footnotes

1. 1ScientifyRESEARCH: Rail – studies, works or mixed (Europe) – scientifyresearch.org
2. 2Euro-Access: Rail – studies, works or mixed – euro-access.eu
3. 3INEA Call Fiche CEF-T-2019-Transport – regione.fvg.it