FAIVELEY TRANSPORT TOURS SAS

Their core work

Faiveley Transport Tours is a French rail equipment manufacturer supplying critical onboard systems for trains, including braking systems, HVAC units, entrance doors, and modular interior components. As part of the Faiveley Transport group (acquired by Wabtec Corporation in 2016), the Tours entity contributes subsystem engineering and integration expertise for rolling stock platforms. In H2020, they engaged in the Shift2Rail joint undertaking, the EU's flagship rail innovation program, contributing industrial know-how to improving vehicle performance on both conventional and high-speed rail. Their work bridges mechanical engineering, thermal systems, and passenger comfort — the full suite of subsystems that determine how a train performs and feels in service.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their H2020 participation began with PIVOT (2017–2019) as a funded participant, where their specific technical contributions are not documented in available keyword data — suggesting a broader, exploratory role in the consortium. By PIVOT2 (2019–2023), their focus became highly specific: carbody shell, running gear, brakes, entrance systems, doors, modular interiors, and HVAC — essentially the full catalogue of a rolling stock subsystem supplier. The shift from undocumented early involvement to a richly detailed subsystem keyword profile in the later project suggests they moved from consortium participant to defined technical contributor with a clear, scoped deliverable set.

They are moving toward a more defined specialist-supplier role within large rail R&D consortia, contributing specific subsystem expertise (brakes, HVAC, doors) rather than broad participation — making them a strong candidate for targeted component or integration work in future Shift2Rail or Europe's Rail projects.

How they like to work

Faiveley Transport Tours has never led an H2020 project — they join as participant or third party, which is typical for large industrial suppliers who contribute product and systems expertise rather than research leadership. Their consortium exposure is notably broad for only two projects: 42 unique partners across 9 countries, suggesting the Shift2Rail ecosystem brings them into wide, structured multi-stakeholder programs. Working with them likely means engaging through a prime contractor or consortium leader, with Faiveley contributing well-defined subsystem deliverables.

Despite only two projects, they have built connections with 42 distinct partners spanning 9 countries — a reach typical of large Shift2Rail consortia, which aggregate rail operators, OEMs, universities, and SMEs across Europe. Their network is concentrated in the European rail supply chain rather than dispersed across sectors.

What sets them apart

Faiveley Transport Tours brings industrial-grade, commercially proven subsystem products into EU research consortia — a distinction that separates them from university labs or pure R&D houses. They can validate research concepts against real product constraints and procurement realities, which is precisely what Shift2Rail-type programs need to move from prototype to deployment. As part of the Wabtec group, they also carry the credibility and supply chain integration of a global tier-1 rail equipment manufacturer, making them a credible industrial anchor for any rolling stock R&D consortium.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PIVOT
  Their entry into EU-funded rail research, receiving the full €1.3M EC contribution as a funded participant in the Shift2Rail program focused on vehicle performance improvement.
• PIVOT2
  A follow-on project (2019–2023) where they contributed as third party with the broadest keyword scope — covering brakes, HVAC, doors, running gear, and interiors — indicating deep subsystem-level engagement across the vehicle.