MagRail will bring frictionless mobility (levitating trains) to conventional tracks. Our system upgrades a conventional railway line with MagRail infrastructure components (linear motor and levitation beams), supplemented by signaling and traffic control system, and vehicle components (e.g. bogie). As a result, MagRail allows for interoperability of conventional and magnetic trains on the same track, which makes the system unique. Retrofitting conventional railway lines’ (speeds up to 160 kph) or high-speed railway lines’ (330 kph) infrastructure into MagRail will allow to substantially increase the speeds to up to 330 and 550 kph respectively, which will bring massive savings in time and money. MagRail will radically increase the capacity and flexibility of railway lines, bringing more goods and passengers to railways, supporting a real modal shift from road, air, and sea to rail, making zero-emissions goals and sustainability targets more achievable.

The MaDe4Rail project aims to explore non-traditional and emerging maglev-derived systems (MDS) and to evaluate the technical feasibility and effectiveness to introduce MDS in Europe under safety aspects and technical-economic performance. Identification and benchmarking of the different maglev-derived technologies for transportation systems and their state of development, definition of a common architecture and specification of the subsystems and technologies needed for its commercialization are expected in the MaDe4Rail Project. Moreover, a risk analysis and identification of needs for standardization on safety and security in operations of MDS will be performed. Also, the assessment of the technical and economic feasibility to introduce these systems into the common European mobility network will be implemented as well as the development of a European roadmap for the possible future implementation of MDS. Lastly, the design of the concept for an MDS vehicle subsystem and a prototype of a sample vehicle for a European use case are foreseen in this project. The MaDe4Rail project is expected to have significant impacts such as contributing to the development of MDS, promoting more sustainable passenger and freight transport and initiating a path towards the reinforcement of railway as the backbone of a multimodal, sustainable and efficient mobility network by possibly, upgrading the existing railway lines/facilities through the adoption of a maglev-derived technology. Moreover, the project fosters information exchange and growth and diffusion of knowledge. MaDe4Rail brings together a multidisciplinary group of experts from diverse backgrounds with a wide range of competences and expertise that would contribute to the success of the project such as Infrastructure Managers, Transport Authorities, Engineering and Consultancy Companies, Technological Developers and Research Centers and Universities.

HYPERNEX addresses the need for a catalyst to accelerate the development of the fifth mean of transport, hyperloop, in Europe. A convergence of R&D entities, industry players, regulators and society needs to be aligned with hyperloop developers. While regulators and standardization bodies need to understand the operation and specification of the new transport mode, the industry and R&D ecosystem need a better understanding on how they can provide value to enhance hyperloop technical development. Therefore, HYPERNEX will cover the ignition of this work, bringing the relevant information into a monolithic asset, creating a ground of understanding among hyperloop developers and providing also the inertia to make the movement sustainable and durable in the coming years.

Europe's fragmented transport system, characterised by a diverse range of national regulations, necessitates innovative solutions. This densely populated, polycentric landscape presents a unique opportunity to address congestion, decarbonise transport, and connect regions. Recognising the transformative potential of hyperloop technology, Hyper4Rail aims to shape future mobility by converging European efforts towards a standardised hyperloop system. Led by the Hyperloop Development Program (HDP), Hyper4Rail brings together key European players – major hyperloop developers and Rail Europe members – to establish a common European hyperloop design concept at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2. This will be followed by demonstrating core subsystems at TRL 4 and defining pathways for industrialization and commercialisation, underpinned by a business case that identifies potentially viable use cases. Aligning with the EU's industrial strategy, Hyper4Rail fosters a technology-agnostic approach, leadership in standard setting, and the development of resilient passenger transport and supply chains. Hyper4Rail pursues a two-pronged approach: (1) technical harmonisation, industrialisation roadmaps, and applicability studies at TRL 2; and (2) design concept and validation of key subsystems at TRL 4. This directly addresses the goals of the Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking's Multiannual Work Programme (MAWP), particularly Flagship Area 7: "Innovation on new approaches for guided transport modes". As stated in the MAWP, this area seeks to explore "non-traditional and emerging flexible and/or high-speed guided transport systems," including "new types of railway-based transport, such as ultra-high-speed trains". Hyperloop technology aligns strongly with this vision, aiming to provide a socioeconomically efficient and long-term sustainable transport solution for citizens and businesses across Europe.