Europe’s Rail: €148M Funding for Rail Innovations, Europe’s Future

Europe’s Rail launches a €148.2 million funding call to boost rail innovation and research, focusing on digitalization, sustainability, and network improvements, with a 2026 deadline.

Europe’s Rail: €148M Funding for Rail Innovations, Europe’s Future
October 14, 2025 5:54 pm
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Introduction

Europe’s Rail has launched a €148.2 million EU funding call to support research and innovation projects, with applications closing on 11 February 2026. The initiative aims to advance projects to higher technology readiness levels and is part of the Europe’s Rail Amended Work Programme for 2025-2026.

Funding Call Overview

The 2025-02 call for proposals from Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking invites applications from companies meeting eligibility requirements under Horizon Europe. The objective is to facilitate the implementation of new operational and technological solutions within Europe’s rail sector. This call constitutes the second group of Flagship Projects.

Project Focus Areas

The call focuses on several areas including the management of the European rail network, automation and digitalization of rail operations, development of sustainable and resilient systems, integration of rail freight into the supply chain, and improvement of regional and local railway lines. Proposals are also sought for rail industry 5.0 and innovation in climate finance, with ongoing support for research talent development through PhD programs.

Financial Details and Timeline

The available EU funding totals €148.2 million ($173.4 million), with the total value of the expected research and innovation projects estimated at €245 million ($286.6 million). The call’s deadline is 11 February 2026, within the framework of the Europe’s Rail Amended Work Programme for 2025-2026. The call follows previous EU-Rail Flagship Projects to advance projects to higher levels of technology readiness.

Supporting Initiatives and Objectives

The initiative aims to support the objectives of the European Green Deal and the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy. It also intends to prepare for the next period of EU programming and address current challenges in the rail sector. The System Pillar approach will continue to inform systems harmonization efforts towards a unified European Rail Area under guidance from the European Commission. An online Info Day detailed proposal requirements and application procedures. In addition, an online networking platform will be available until the submission deadline.

Last June 2025, we published an article about Renfe’s cutting-edge Aranjuez maintenance hub. Click here to read – Future of Rail: Renfe’s Railway Technology Hub, Aranjuez: Essential Guide

Conclusion

The Europe’s Rail initiative aims to make rail more digital, sustainable, and reliable for both passengers and freight. The call encourages strong partnerships and practical solutions to deliver impact quickly and at scale.

Company Summary

Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking: The organization has launched a funding call to support research and innovation projects. The goal is to enable the implementation of new operational and technological solutions in Europe’s rail sector.

RailNetEurope (RNE): Established in 2004, RNE aims to address challenges in the international rail sector and support compliance with the European legal framework.

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