FOSTER RAIL STARTS RIGHT ON TRACK

FOSTER-RAIL shall build on the work carried out by the previous ERRAC-ROADMAP FP7 Research action. The project shall focus on supporting and enhancing the cooperation between Research and Innovation stakeholders and decision-makers for the definition of rail relevant strategic research and innovation needs at European level. Through this project, the main objective is to increase the attractiveness of rail and its related industry both in Europe and worldwide.This action shall also reinforce the cooperation with the two other land transport European Technology Platforms, ERTRAC for road and WATERBORNE, by identifying and managing in a coordinated way issues of common interest. Their joint objective is to comply with the Europe-2020 strategy and achieve the vision of the White Paper 2011 for a competitive and resource-efficient European transport system.
The tasks shall be performed in consultation with the European Commission (EC) and Member States and Associated States (MS/AS).
Among its main strategic objectives, FOSTER RAIL shall specifically: develop Rail Business Scenarios, as well as an updated Strategic Rail Research and Innovation Agenda (SRRIA); and define implementation plans. In addition, FOSTER RAIL will support the establishment of the interfaces between ERRAC and SHIFT²RAIL, the proposed rail joint technology initiative (JTI).

The project will also assist the preparation of the Transport Research Arena TRA2014 conference to be held in Paris-La Défense on 14-17 April 2014 as the main showcase of transportation research in Europe.

Through FOSTER RAIL, the ERRAC website has been rejuvenated. The platform and the project are now presented at www.errac.org