The Shift2Rail Multi Annual Action Plan (MAAP) will play a central role in the establishment of future interoperable railway systems suitable for European society and environment. However, it is necessary to be aware of the novel possibilities that can enable an increasingly sustainable progress in this regard. TER4RAIL will identify and monitor new opportunities for innovative research and facilitate the cross-fertilisation of knowledge from other disciplines, at what is referred to as the Rail Innovative Research Observatory. Permanent contact with other relevant sectors will have a prominent role in importing disruptive perspectives from other disciplines and facilitating interactions. TER4RAIL will determine and assess the existing roadmaps that drive the future of railways and compare them with the interpretations obtained from the observatory. This analysis will indicate the gaps that require to be covered and serve as the anchor for the prospective roadmaps. TER4RAIL considers railways as the backbone of future European mobility, as stated in the rail sector’s European Railway Research Advisory Council’s (ERRAC) Rail 2050 Vision published in December 2017, and therefore, it is necessary that TER4RAIL raise arguments that can sustain this essential system. To that end, data analysis and statistical reporting are foreseen and conducted. Finally, the work performed under TER4RAIL will be communicated to the transport community, liaising with the Shift2Rail communication team with a correlated communication strategy. A strategy of exploitation of the results will guarantee that these are properly employed in this area with maximum impact. TER4RAIL will be able to select and synthetize a considerable amount of information regarding railways’ futures and transmit them in a consolidated, improved, clear, and understandable manner. This should facilitate the realisation of TER4RAIL’s ambition of being the CSA of reference for the evolution of EU railways.

European distribution networks and light-railway networks present common issues: both have been developed as independent networks, relying on the resilience and robustness of existing power supplies. However, RES progressive penetration introduced an increasing degree of uncertainty on the direction of power flows. Both networks are looking at integrated solutions targeting: i) reduction of electricity losses ii) increase the grid stability in a high local RES penetration scenario iii) accommodate the needs of new energy actors such as EVs, electrical storages and prosumers. Electrified transport networks such as light railways could act to enhance distribution grid stability providing ancillary services inter-exchanging electricity. However such potential is still unexploited. E-LOBSTER intends to capture such potential through the development of an innovative, economically viable and easily replicable electric Transport-Grid Inter-Connection System that will be able to establish synergies between power distribution networks, electrified transport networks (metro, trams, light railways etc.) and charging stations for EVs. The proposed solution encompasses the integration of high power flow Electric Storage with smart Soft Open Points providing flexible control. The system will be managed by an integrated Railway + Grid Management System which starting from the real time analysis of energy losses will be able to optimize the interexchange of electricity between the networks maximizing local RES self-consumption. The hardware and software control platform will be demonstrated at TRL 6 in one substation owned by Metro de Madrid. Business models and standardisation needs will be deeply analyzed and measures to unlock existing barriers will be promoted and in parallel the knowledge generated from the project will be further exploited for the definition of the up-scale design of a full scale E-LOBSTER system, paving the ground towards replication across the EU.

SYMBIOSIS is a pioneering interdisciplinary initiative in biodiversity, aligning with the UN's vision for responsible land use and the European Green Deal. It will build a community of practice between transport infrastructure, energy distribution and production, and biodiversity, while addressing the role of strategic planning in climate change and building resilient infrastructure. The collaborative approach will accelerate action, seamlessly integrating diverse stakeholders within the CSA framework and the EU-Rail Master Plan. SYMBIOSIS offers a holistic approach integrating biodiversity consideration through the entire lifecycle of infrastructure projects. Introducing an impact assessment tool for linear infrastructure, it promotes digitalisation, contributing to a unified European biodiversity baseline through standardised data collection, monitoring and mapping in transport and energy projects. Committed to nature-based solutions for climate-resilient infrastructure, SYMBIOSIS establishes a methodology contributing to the "theory of change", guiding decisions and facilitating information exchange for "no net loss" and "net gain" biodiversity objectives. Building on the momentum created in projects such as the EU-funded BISON project, SYMBIOSIS envisions the coexistence of sustainable infrastructure with thriving biodiversity, advocating for social, economic and environmental well-being. It provides guidance for regulatory changes in biodiversity standardisation globally, acts as a cornerstone for science-based decision-making, similar to the SOURCE platform, and will contribute to a unified European biodiversity baseline, including processes such as CSRD and supply chain management. SYMBIOSIS provides recommendations for biodiversity-related research and innovation, guiding decision-makers and investors on pathways leading to a sustainable, biodiverse future. It showcases transformative change through cross-disciplinary efforts for harmonious coexistence.