Combined rail-road freight transportprimary
4 projects
All four H2020 projects relate to multimodal freight logistics, from yard management (OPTIYARD) to global trade networks (PLANET).
Organization
UNION INTERNATIONALE DES SOCIETES DE TRANSPORT COMBINE RAIL-ROUTE SCRL
European industry association for combined rail-road freight transport, contributing operational expertise and policy insight to intermodal logistics research.
NGO / AssociationtransportBESMENo active H2020 projects
H2020 projects
4
As coordinator
0
Total EC funding
€569K
Unique partners
81
What they do
Their core work
UIRR is the European industry association representing combined transport operators and terminals — companies that move freight using rail for the long haul and road for the first/last mile. In H2020 projects, they contribute deep sector knowledge on intermodal logistics, rail-road coordination, and TEN-T corridor planning. Their role is to bring the voice of the combined transport industry into research consortia, ensuring that technical innovations align with real operational needs of freight terminals and intermodal carriers across Europe.
Core expertise
What they specialise in
Physical Internet and digital logisticsemerging
2 projects
ICONET and PLANET both explore next-generation logistics architectures including Physical Internet concepts, blockchain, and smart contracts.
TEN-T corridor integration and modellingsecondary
1 project
PLANET specifically targets integration of TEN-T networks into global trade routes with geoeconomic analysis.
Freight vehicle aerodynamics and efficiencysecondary
1 project
AEROFLEX addressed next-generation long-distance road transport with aerodynamic truck design, where UIRR contributed the intermodal perspective.
Rail yard and terminal operationssecondary
1 project
OPTIYARD focused on real-time optimization of rail yard and network management for freight.
Evolution & trajectory
How they've shifted over time
Early focus
Rail-road operational efficiency
Recent focus
Digital global logistics networks
UIRR's early H2020 involvement (2017-2018) focused on operational efficiency — optimizing rail yards (OPTIYARD) and improving truck aerodynamics for long-haul transport (AEROFLEX). From 2018 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward digital transformation and global connectivity, engaging with Physical Internet architectures (ICONET) and federated logistics platforms integrating blockchain and synchromodality (PLANET). This mirrors the broader freight transport sector's pivot from hardware optimization to data-driven, globally connected logistics.
UIRR is moving toward digitalized, globally connected freight logistics — future partners should expect interest in blockchain-enabled supply chains, Physical Internet platforms, and TEN-T integration with non-European trade corridors.
Collaboration profile
How they like to work
Role: specialist_contributorReach: European19 countries collaborated
UIRR always participates as a consortium partner, never as coordinator, which is typical for an industry association that brings sectoral expertise and policy insight rather than leading technical development. With 81 unique partners across 19 countries from just 4 projects, they operate in large, diverse consortia — an indicator that they are comfortable in complex multi-stakeholder environments. Their value in a consortium is as an industry representative who can validate research outputs against real-world freight transport operations.
Despite only 4 projects, UIRR has built a broad network of 81 partners across 19 countries, reflecting the large consortia typical of EU transport research. Their Brussels base and pan-European membership give them connections across most EU freight transport markets.
Why partner with them
What sets them apart
UIRR is not a technology company or research lab — it is THE European voice of combined transport, representing the operators who actually move goods by rail and road every day. This makes them uniquely valuable in any consortium that needs industry validation, policy alignment, or access to the combined transport sector's operational realities. For consortium builders, partnering with UIRR means your project gains credibility and a direct channel to the freight intermodal community.
Notable projects
Highlights from their portfolio
- PLANETLargest budget (EUR 343,750) and most ambitious scope — integrating TEN-T into global trade with blockchain, synchromodality, and geoeconomic analysis.
- ICONETExplored Physical Internet logistics architecture, positioning UIRR at the frontier of next-generation freight network design.
- OPTIYARDDirectly targeted rail yard optimization — the core operational domain of UIRR's member companies.
Cross-sector capabilities
Supply chain and logistics digitalizationBlockchain and smart contracts for freightEnvironmental sustainability of freight transportTrade policy and geoeconomic analysis
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