Europe’s Rail Flagship Project 3 - Holistic and Integrated Asset Management for Europe’s RAIL System

The IAM4RAIL project focuses on seven (7) different integrated demonstrators for rail assets which are key for research and innovation (R&I) in the rail sector. Integrating asset condition information obtained via advanced monitoring with decision-making tools and into the traffic management system (TMS), combining available information with artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twins are covered as key topics for R&I in IAM4RAIL. Other topics such as interventions using cutting-edge technologies as robotics or additive manufacturing are seen as relevant for improving asset management in the rail sector. An European cross-border, interoperable and holistic integrated approach is needed for those topics and others in the asset management framework, that are to be transferred once developed crucial to harmonise European Rail System. Therefore, IAM4RAIL aims to reinforce the next generation of Intelligent and Integrated Rail Asset Management providing and demonstrating innovative solutions covering fixed and rolling stock assets, minimizing the life cycle costs of assets and extend their lifetime, while meeting safety requirements and improving the reliability, availability and maintainability of the rail system. IAM4RAIL will pave the way for the integration of asset condition information and TMS, enabling optimization of train routing decisions and improving the overall lifecycle of monitored assets. IAM4RAIL ensures an increased volume of rail traffic in existing lines with improved cost efficiency and lower CO2 emissions from their maintenance and operations. Furthermore, construction time and cost of new assets and lines are reduced, the durability and reliability of their assets increased, and their life cycle costs are optimized. Competitiveness of the European railway industry is strengthened through the obtention of more qualified products, and its application improves the performance (capacity, flexibility and punctuality) of the whole railway system.