Conceptual development of Automated Multi-Modal Mobility-Systems (“Moving Infrastructures”)

To address the door-to-door travel and logistic needs of customers and enhance the seamless experience, a new type of sustainable collaborative transport system may emerge as a new mobility offer, diverging from the current combination of individual and mass transport services. This new transport solution is expected to contribute strengthening the railway transport position in the future mobility market, with the use of cutting-edge technology for automation, digitalisation and electrification.

The challenge is to develop a rail based fully automated Multi-Modal Mobility-System for passengers and goods with a “Moving Infrastructure” system^[1], which is economically feasible and sustainable. It is expected to be based on an Open Platform of common standards and standardised interfaces with current transport infrastructure solutions and it is expected making use of disruptive operation models, exploiting existing infrastructure.

The assumption of this topic, is that each static infrastructure (for rail, road, etc.) has an equivalent “moving infrastructure” unique carrier. another element is the transport of people and goods from door to door without changing the “moving infrastructure” vessel (sometimes also referred as POD), through the use of a standardised vessel for the different needs of passengers and goods.

The project stemming from this topic shall address all the following work streams and it is expected to provide:

Work stream 1: Identification of Use Cases, Business Cases / CBA, operational concept

This workstream is expected to deliver a clear analysis of the economic, technical, normative and legal parameters for the introduction of such a system. Based on this work business cases (with costs/benefit analysis per stakeholders) needs to be derived together with the definition of possible operating models, taking into account all possible transport options when changing the transport mode (e.g. cable cars, road vehicles).

Work stream 2: “Moving infrastructure” vessel and the operation system

This workstream is expected to deliver a concept study for the new system including design concept for vehicle, information and communication, related to Pods (e.g., availability, ETA, equipment, designation), as well as a design concept for coupling system and loading/unloading of “moving infrastructure” vessel (in collaboration with Work-stream 3)

Work stream 3: “Moving infrastructure” carrier incl. locking system and handling system

This workstream is expected to deliver at least an experimental proof of concept of a “moving infrastructure” carrier for rail, possibly technically validated. Additionally, it is expected to have conceptual developments of Coupling System for the connection of “moving infrastructure” Carrier and the “moving infrastructure” vessel incl. locking devices, loading/unloading technologies for handling the “moving infrastructure” vessels and Carrier.

The project stemming from this topic shall contribute to deliver the expected outcomes and the R&I work should cover:

Work-stream 1:

• Technology assessment for passenger and freight transport for an automated multimodal mobility system in the form of a rail-based system of “moving infrastructure” vessel and carrier
• Hazard analysis of multimodal mobility systems incl. determination of relevant standards and legal needs and constraints for the autonomous operation of a railway with a “moving infrastructure” system, with recommendations
• Socio-Economical evaluation of such multimodal mobility system, incl. Use Case Studies
• Development of (a) business case/s including a CBA for the different stakeholders and for the different use cases
• Evaluation (economical and technical) feasibility of envisaged operational procedures

Work-stream 2:

• Technical Concept for Pod, vehicle design including the Coupling System, Operation System (TRL2)
• Design variants of the vessel as e.g. commuter, business, education, freight, etc. (TRL2)
• Development of a sample vessel for one use case at least through validation in virtual environment (TRL3/4)
• Concept development for vessel equipment e.g. Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Automation (TRL2)

Taking into account the output from the projects stemming from the Flagship Areas 1, 2, 5 and 6:

• Design Concept for “moving infrastructure” vessel identification and positioning coordination (“which Pod is where?”) (TRL2)
• Design concept for information and communication (TRL2)
• Design concept for passenger information related vessels (e.g., availability, ETA, equipment) (TRL2)

The “moving infrastructure” vessels shall have standardised dimensions and mechanical interfaces and, if applicable, electrical interfaces. Depending on the application, they are designed for the transport of people and / or goods and include all the necessary facilities or equipment. In case of passengers’ transport, they should also include facilities for communication and passenger information, ticket recognition and / or autonomous payment systems, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, safety and emergency systems, diagnostic equipment and autonomous repair processes, as well as flexible interior equipment. The passenger Pod could also offer the ability for long distance travelling at night.

In addition, there is a need to define all relevant systems for operating a fully autonomous transport system, such as operating system, energy supply, information and auxiliary systems.

Work-stream 3:

• Definition and development of a standardized coupling system, which is essential for safe loading and unloading of the “moving infrastructure” vessels from the “moving infrastructure” Carrier and for securing them on the different transport platforms (TRL3)
• Concept for the handling, loading/unloading technologies (TRL3)
• Development of a “moving infrastructure” carrier for rail with technical validation where achievable (TRL3/4)

The “moving infrastructure” Carrier contains all functionalities that are necessary for transport on existing rail networks, such as running gear, energy supply and drive units, devices for autonomous driving (sensor technology, communication technology, vehicle control, etc.), braking devices as well as global and local transport coordination which should be adapted to all climate and adverse weather conditions (e. g. snow and cold temperature in winter). The “moving infrastructure” Carrier shall be able to carry out a completely autonomous operation on the rail network with low noise-emission and ability to communicate with the latest railway safety systems, to allow mixed operation if necessary. The operating system shall be designed to able to ensure the fully autonomous use of “moving infrastructure” Carrier+Vessel in the existing railway system.

Taking into account the output from the projects stemming from the Flagship Areas 1, 2, 5 and 6:

• automation concept
• design concept for vehicle coordination (incl. TMS and CCS adaptation)

An indicative scheduling of the deliverables is suggested below:

Outcomes under workstream 1 are expected by M15

Outcomes under workstream 2 are expected by M30

Outcomes under workstream 3 are expected by M30

Interactions with other EU-RAIL projects:

The action to be funded under this topic shall take into account the outputs of linked projects from EU-RAIL Flagship Areas 1,2,5 and 6 and work together for any potential interfaces.

[1] See Flagship Area 7 description in the MAWP (https://rail-research.europa.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/EURAIL_MAWP_final.pdf) and AWP