RETE FERROVIARIA ITALIANA

Their core work

RFI is Italy's national railway infrastructure manager, responsible for operating and maintaining over 16,000 km of rail network including tracks, bridges, tunnels, stations, and signalling systems. In H2020, they serve as a key end-user and validation partner, providing real-world railway environments for testing satellite-based train positioning (ERTMS/GNSS), advanced traffic management systems, and predictive asset maintenance. They bring operational expertise to projects spanning railway digitalization, safety and security of transport networks, and infrastructure monitoring at scale.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2018), RFI focused on foundational testing and validation — virtual test environments, standard testing architectures, and early satellite-based ERTMS trials. From 2019 onward, a clear shift emerged toward operational demonstrators, prototypes, and integrated systems: traffic management platforms, AI-driven predictive maintenance, cyber-physical security, and multi-sensor digital mapping. The trajectory shows an infrastructure operator moving from validating individual technologies to integrating them into real operational environments.

RFI is moving toward fully digitalized railway operations — combining satellite positioning, AI-based asset management, and integrated traffic control — making them an ideal end-user partner for digital transport infrastructure projects.

How they like to work

RFI primarily joins consortia as a participant or third-party contributor (13 of 15 projects), providing real-world infrastructure access and operational validation rather than leading research. They coordinated only twice — both on ERTMS satellite positioning, their deepest expertise. With 226 unique partners across 26 countries, they operate as a well-connected hub in the European rail innovation ecosystem, particularly through the Shift2Rail programme.

RFI has collaborated with 226 distinct partners across 26 countries, reflecting deep integration into Europe's rail research ecosystem. Their network spans railway operators, signalling companies, research institutes, and space agencies through both Shift2Rail and mainstream H2020 transport projects.

What sets them apart

As Italy's national rail infrastructure manager, RFI offers something most research partners cannot: access to a live, large-scale railway network for real-world testing and demonstration. Their dual expertise in satellite-based positioning (ERTMS/Galileo) and asset monitoring makes them a rare bridge between space technology and ground transport. For any consortium needing an end-user who can validate railway innovations on actual infrastructure, RFI is one of Europe's most credible partners.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ERSAT GGC
  One of only two projects RFI coordinated — positioned Galileo satellite navigation as a game-changer for ERTMS train control across Europe.
• CLEVER Cities
  Their largest single grant (EUR 615K) and a surprising departure from core rail work, exploring urban ecological solutions — signals openness to cross-sector collaboration.
• SAFETY4RAILS
  Addressed the critical emerging challenge of combined cyber-physical security threats across metro and railway systems, with RFI as an end-user validator.