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IN2TRACK3 · Project

Smarter Railway Tracks, Bridges and Tunnels That Last Longer and Cost Less

transportPilotedTRL 7
projects.shift2rail.org

Railway tracks, bridges and tunnels across Europe are getting old, and fixing them is expensive and causes delays. This project brought together 40 partners from 10 countries to build and test better ways to monitor, repair and strengthen this infrastructure — think of it like giving aging roads a smart health checkup system plus better repair kits. They ran real-world demonstrations on bridges and tunnels, including full-scale tests, to prove these solutions actually work before railways roll them out widely.

By the numbers
40
consortium partners collaborating on railway infrastructure innovation
10
European countries represented in the consortium
17
industry partners validating the solutions
4
completed full-scale demonstrators (tunnels, bridge monitoring, high-speed bridges, bridge service)
3
technical sub-projects covering track, switches/crossings, and bridges/tunnels
21
total project deliverables completed
The business problem

What needed solving

Europe's railway infrastructure is aging, with tracks, switches, bridges and tunnels requiring increasingly expensive maintenance that disrupts service and limits network capacity. Infrastructure managers need better ways to extend asset life, reduce repair costs and improve reliability without shutting down busy rail lines for long periods.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered 4 full-scale demonstrators: tunnel strengthening using fibre reinforced concrete, bridge health monitoring systems, high-speed low-cost bridge solutions with proposals for improved design codes, and bridge service capability improvements validated through full-scale testing. In total, 21 deliverables were completed covering physical and digital technologies for track, switches and crossings, and bridges and tunnels.

Audience

Who needs this

National railway infrastructure managers (e.g., Network Rail, DB Netz, ProRail)Railway maintenance and engineering contractorsBridge and tunnel structural monitoring companiesRailway switch and crossing manufacturersCivil engineering firms specializing in transport infrastructure
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Railway Infrastructure Management
enterprise
Target: National or regional railway infrastructure operators

If you are a railway infrastructure manager dealing with aging bridges and tunnels that need constant expensive repairs — this project developed and demonstrated tunnel strengthening techniques using fibre reinforced concrete and bridge health monitoring systems tested at full scale. With 4 dedicated demonstrators covering tunnels, bridge monitoring, high-speed bridges and bridge service life extension, these are proven solutions ready for deployment across your network.

Railway Maintenance & Engineering Services
mid-size
Target: Companies providing track and structure maintenance to rail operators

If you are a maintenance contractor struggling with outdated repair methods for switches, crossings and track components — this project delivered improved repair techniques and quality methods across 3 technical sub-projects built on results from 2 predecessor projects. The 17 industry partners in the consortium validated these methods, meaning you can offer clients proven, cost-reducing maintenance approaches.

Structural Health Monitoring Technology
SME
Target: Sensor and monitoring system manufacturers for civil infrastructure

If you are a monitoring technology company looking to enter or expand in the rail sector — this project demonstrated bridge health monitoring systems in real railway environments. The consortium included 16 universities generating new monitoring methodologies plus 17 industry partners who validated commercial viability. These results define what rail operators will be buying next.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement these solutions on our railway network?

The project data does not include specific implementation costs per kilometer or per asset. However, the project explicitly aimed to reduce lifecycle costs (LCC) and optimize asset capital spending. Contact the consortium for cost-benefit analyses from their demonstrators.

Can these solutions scale to a full national railway network?

The solutions were developed and demonstrated by a consortium of 40 partners across 10 countries, including major infrastructure managers like Sweden's Trafikverket. With 17 industry partners and 4 full demonstrators covering tunnels, bridge monitoring, high-speed bridges, and bridge service improvement, the path from demonstration to network-wide rollout is well established.

Who owns the intellectual property and how can we license these technologies?

IP is distributed among the 40 consortium partners under Horizon 2020 rules. The project falls under the SHIFT2RAIL programme, which has its own IP framework designed to facilitate uptake by the European rail industry. Contact the coordinator (Trafikverket) or individual technology developers for licensing terms.

Are these solutions compliant with European railway regulations and standards?

The project was part of the SHIFT2RAIL Joint Undertaking, which is specifically designed to align innovations with European railway standards and regulatory requirements. The bridge dynamics work included proposals for improved code changes, indicating direct engagement with standards bodies.

How long before we could deploy these in our operations?

The project ran from 2021 to 2023 and is now closed, with completed demonstrators and full-scale tests. As an Innovation Action building on 2 predecessor projects (IN2TRACK and IN2TRACK2), the technologies are at advanced readiness. Deployment timelines depend on your specific infrastructure and regulatory approvals.

How do the bridge monitoring systems integrate with our existing infrastructure management tools?

Based on available project data, the bridge health monitoring demonstrators were tested in real railway environments. The project developed both physical and digital technology demonstrators, suggesting compatibility with digital asset management approaches. Specific integration details should be discussed with the technology providers in the consortium.

Consortium

Who built it

The IN2TRACK3 consortium is exceptionally strong with 40 partners from 10 European countries, led by Trafikverket — Sweden's national transport administration. The 42% industry ratio (17 industry partners) alongside 16 universities ensures solutions are both scientifically rigorous and commercially viable. With only 4 SMEs, this is primarily a big-player consortium, meaning the technologies are designed for large-scale railway operations. The presence of infrastructure managers, technology developers, and research institutions creates a complete value chain from research through to deployment. This is a third-generation project following IN2TRACK and IN2TRACK2, indicating a mature, well-coordinated team with years of established collaboration.

How to reach the team

Trafikverket (Swedish Transport Administration) in Sweden coordinated this project. SciTransfer can facilitate introductions to the right technical contact within the consortium.

Order a report on this consortiumSee TRAFIKVERKET - TRV profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to know which specific IN2TRACK3 technologies fit your railway infrastructure challenges? SciTransfer can match you with the right consortium partner and arrange a technical briefing.

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