advertisement

---

On Wednesday, more than 100 government officials, research experts, consultants and other European rail industry representatives attended the European Rail Research Advisory Council’s (ERRAC) information seminar in Brussels, Belgium.

ERRAC officials presented a progress report on the council, which was established by the European Commission in 2001 to reach a consensus on European railway research priorities. Presenters also discussed the main challenges facing rail research: finding ways to increase the rail industry’s competitiveness, maintain and improve rail’s environmental performance advantages, increase capacity and expand infrastructure, and achieve economic sustainability.

ERRAC is attempting to coordinate its objectives with Strategic Rail Research Agenda (SRRA) 2020, which was launched in 2002. The council plans to pool corporate, national and European resources to fund research and create an industry knowledge base. Research priorities include interoperability, intelligent mobility, environment, safety, and innovative materials and production methods. ERRAC also plans to organize a second SRRA to fund and address research priorities up to 2025.