Nine trade associations from the railway and logistics sector are calling on the European Union (EU) to create a successor to Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking (ERJU) in the next research framework programme with at least €3 billion, half of which would be financed by the EU and half by the railway industry. In addition, €15 billion is required for early introduction to support technological maturity. The aim is to avoid fragmentation of research and promote innovative railway projects. The associations emphasise the importance of coordinated technology introduction and predictable investment. Successes of previous EU research programmes such as Shift2Rail include communication systems, digital couplings and zero-emission drives. Signatories include the Community of European Railways (CER) and the International Union of Railways UIC.
