THE Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking (S2R) and the International Union of Railways (UIC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote cooperation between the organisations to support the structured implementation of S2R’s innovative solutions, and to deliver a functional system approach that is suited to the operational needs of the sector, especially final users.

The UIC is the global technical platform that sets out the technical solutions for the operational railway, including the International Railway Solutions (IRS), for designing, constructing, operating and maintaining rail services.

“This agreement between our two organisations is very important for us as it strengthens our ongoing collaboration and paves the way for deeper cooperation,” says S2R executive director, Mr Carlo Borghini. “The objective is to boost the competitiveness of the railway sector by accelerating the market uptake of innovative solutions and enhancing the economic benefits. Two excellent examples of our cooperation are the ongoing work on telecommunications and standardisation of Future Railway Mobile Communication Systems (FRMCS), and the support for a railway system data modelling.”

“Improving and deepening our collaboration with S2R is a key milestone for UIC,” says UIC director general, Mr François Davenne. “Our members are more and more implied in delivering together within S2R a shared vision of the railway system of the future, both in terms of general architecture and of specific innovations. UIC as the technical body of the sector is the forum where our members are joining forces on key subjects such as telecoms, ticketing and digital platforms. Close collaboration with S2R will help to ascertain that railways are ready to deliver the zero emission backbone of mobility that citizens desire.”