CONSTRUCCIONES Y AUXILIAR DE FERROCARRILES INVESTIGACION Y DESARROLLO SL

Their core work

CAF I+D is the dedicated R&D subsidiary of CAF Group, one of Europe's leading railway rolling stock manufacturers based in the Basque Country, Spain. They develop and validate next-generation train subsystems — traction drives (including silicon carbide power electronics), signalling and train control systems (ETCS, ATO, moving block), and onboard communication platforms (TCMS, 5G/FRMCS). Their work spans the full railway technology stack from power electronics and noise reduction to cybersecurity and autonomous train operation, feeding directly into CAF's commercial train products.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2015–2018), CAF I+D focused heavily on railway signalling fundamentals — GNSS-based train positioning, ERTMS/ETCS systems, and foundational Shift2Rail activities in traction and braking. From 2019 onward, the focus shifted decisively toward system-level integration and demonstration: moving block signalling, cybersecurity, zero on-site testing, SiC traction prototyping, 5G rail communications, and autonomous train operation. The trajectory shows a clear move from component-level R&D toward validated, deployment-ready railway systems.

CAF I+D is moving toward autonomous train operation, zero-emission traction (fuel cells), and 5G-connected rail systems — positioning for the next generation of European railway infrastructure.

How they like to work

CAF I+D operates overwhelmingly as a third party (24 of 29 projects), which is typical for large industrial members of the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking contributing through their parent entity's membership. They never coordinate but bring deep domain expertise into very large consortia. With 254 unique partners across 20 countries, they are deeply embedded in the European rail research ecosystem and work with virtually every major rail technology player on the continent.

With 254 unique consortium partners spanning 20 countries, CAF I+D is one of the most broadly connected railway R&D entities in the Shift2Rail ecosystem. Their network covers the full European rail supply chain from signalling specialists to infrastructure managers.

What sets them apart

CAF I+D brings something rare: they are an OEM's own R&D lab, meaning their research feeds directly into trains that run on European railways. Unlike academic partners or pure research institutes, every technology they develop in H2020 projects has a clear commercialization path through CAF Group's rolling stock products. Their breadth across traction, signalling, TCMS, noise, and now hydrogen propulsion makes them a one-stop railway technology contributor for any consortium needing industrial validation and prototyping.

Highlights from their portfolio

• FCH2RAIL
  Marks CAF I+D's entry into hydrogen fuel cell rail propulsion — a strategic pivot toward zero-emission trains and their most recent project (2021-2025).
• X2Rail-5
  Capstone of a five-phase signalling programme covering moving block, cybersecurity, fail-safe positioning, and formal methods — culminating years of Shift2Rail signalling work.
• FINE-2
  Their highest-funded project (EUR 168,637) as direct participant, covering noise/vibration, energy efficiency, and integrated mobility management across freight and passenger trains.