MAGLEV-DERIVED SYSTEMS FOR RAIL
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 Centres and Universities.
Project objectives
MaDe4Rail project aims to evaluate the technical feasibility and effectiveness to introduce MDS in Europe from the perspective of safety, economic and technical performance. As the scope of the Flagship Area 7 is to explore non-traditional and disruptive guided transportation systems that are based on new technologies, MaDe4Rail aims to contribute to the development of MDS. Quantitative KPIs are not formulated in this project, as its goal is to build a common knowledge, define the technological concept and the specifications of maglev-derived transportation systems to understand the potential of introducing such system – or their subsystems – into the European transportation network and to foster development towards its commercial maturity.
Project structure
The overall methodology of the FA7: Maglev-derived systems will be subdivided into two major workstreams (WS): WS1 – Technical definitions and WS2 – Development of business case analysis, including feasibility studies and use cases. Each WS is divided into WPs that organize different activities in homogeneous tasks and gather the right competences.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them
Facts&Figures
Total Project Cost: 2,56 M€
EU-Rail JU Funding: 1,5 M€
Duration: 12 months
Project start date: 01/07/2023
Project end date: 30/06/2024
Partners: 16 partners from 8 countries
Project coordinator: Rete Ferroviaria Italiana S.P.A.
Call: HORIZON-ER-JU-2022-02
Grant agreement no.: 101121851
