Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking 2028-2034 – Vision for a cost-efficient railway transformation

In the framework of the European Commission's Call for Evidence on Horizon Europe – European Partnerships to be implemented as Joint Undertakings, UNIFE, together with 14 associations representing the entire European rail ecosystem, has published a joint sector paper calling for a successor to Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking for 2028–2034.

The paper makes the case for a standalone rail R&I Joint Undertaking under Article 187 TFEU, with a minimum budget of €3 billion complemented by €15 billion in pre-deployment funding via the European Competitiveness Fund, national and private investments. Only a dedicated Joint Undertaking can bridge the gap between research and deployment, complete the Single European Railway Area, and safeguard the global leadership of the European rail industry.