Proposal for a Council Decision endorsing the Shift2Rail Master Plan

Council Regulation (EU) No 642/2014 of 16 June 2014 establishing the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking (hereinafter "S2R Regulation") entered into force on 7 July 2014, thereby formally establishing a new public-private partnership to manage research and innovation activities in support of the development of better rail services in Europe.

The founding members of the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking are identified in the S2R Regulation and include the Union, represented by the Commission, as well as eight partners from the industry, namely: Alstom Transport, Ansaldo STS, Bombardier Transportation, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocariles, Network Rail, Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Thales and Trafikverket. Additional associated members are to be selected through an open call for membership, launched by the Commission within 3 months of the entry into force of the S2R Regulation.

Shift2Rail's goal is to support the objectives of the 2011 Transport White Paper and the modal shift towards rail from other less sustainable transport modes by making rail more cost-efficient and attractive.

The innovative technologies and solutions to be developed, demonstrated and validated by Shift2Rail are expected to double the capacity of the railway transport system, to reduce its lifecycle cost by 50% and to decrease unreliability and late arrivals by 50%. The Joint Undertaking will also support the global leadership of the European rail industry, thereby creating jobs and increasing exports.

In accordance with Articles 1(4) and 2(a) of Annex I to the S2R Regulation the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking should establish, develop and ensure the effective and efficient implementation of a Master Plan. This Master Plan should be a forward-looking document defining the priority research and innovation activities to drive innovation in the rail sector in the long term.

In accordance with Article 1(3) of Annex I to the S2R Regulation, the Shift2Rail Master Plan should be structured around the five following thematic areas or 'Innovation Programmes’ (IPs):
- IP1: Cost-efficient and Reliable Trains, including high capacity trains and high speed trains;
- IP2: Advanced Traffic Management & Control Systems;
- IP3: Cost-efficient and Reliable High Capacity Infrastructure;
- IP4: IT Solutions for Attractive Railway Services;
- IP5: Technologies for Sustainable & Attractive European Freight.

EUR-Lex: COM(2014)739: Follow the progress of this proposal through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2014:739:FIN

ESO: Background information: Council adopts Shift2Rail joint undertaking regulation to boost rail innovation http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-adopts-shift2rail-joint-undertaking-regulation-to-boost-rail-innovation/

ESO: Background information: Transport: EU seeks out partners for joint rail research http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-transport-eu-seeks-out-partners-for-joint-rail-research/

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