Hellenic Train actively participates in European research, technological development and innovation projects, contributing to the future of rail and intermodal transport.
Through partnerships with organizations, institutions and businesses across Europe, the company strengthens its expertise, expands its network of collaborations, and leverages new technologies to continuously enhance its services. At the same time, its participation in co-funded projects supports the development of employee skills through the exchange of know-how, strengthens its competitiveness, while concurrently promoting the country’s position in the international context of rail and combined transport.
Its objective is to contribute to a modern, reliable and sustainable railway, delivering meaningful value for passengers, society, and the wider transport ecosystem.
Hellenic Train actively participates in European research, technological development and innovation projects, contributing to the future of rail and intermodal transport.
Through partnerships with organizations, institutions and businesses across Europe, the company strengthens its expertise, expands its network of collaborations, and leverages new technologies to continuously enhance its services. At the same time, its participation in co-funded projects supports the development of employee skills through the exchange of know-how, strengthens its competitiveness, while concurrently promoting the country’s position in the international context of rail and combined transport.
Its objective is to contribute to a modern, reliable and sustainable railway, delivering meaningful value for passengers, society, and the wider transport ecosystem.
Enabling Seamless Multimodal Transport and Logistics with 5G SA connectivity
The Multimodal-5G project is a transformative initiative designed to enhance multimodal transport and logistics through the deployment of advanced 5G Standalone (SA) infrastructure along the GR-BG Land, Rail, and Maritime Corridor, connecting Crete, Piraeus, Athens, and Simitli (BG). The project achieves via both infrastructure- and transport mode- (train wagons, vessels) based deployments and installations. By leveraging 5G SA connectivity, and edge cloud capabilities, AI-driven analytics, as well as IoT capabilities, the project introduces smart transport solutions that optimize passenger experience, infrastructure monitoring, freight operations, while ensuring enhanced safety, operational efficiency, and sustainability.
Multimodal-5G will revolutionize multimodal transport operations by deploying real-time monitoring systems, predictive maintenance solutions, and automated logistics coordination across rail, maritime, and urban transport networks. The project will enable AI-powered multimodal route optimization, cargo condition tracking, and emissions monitoring, supporting smart ports, intelligent rail hubs, and interconnected logistics ecosystems.
In rail transport, Multimodal-5G will enhance passenger experience through enhanced connectivity, as well as safety and efficiency through real-time infrastructure monitoring, passenger condition monitoring, and dynamic traffic management. In maritime operations, the project will offer enhanced passenger experience while on board, integrate vessel and on-board logistics truck real-time tracking and notification systems, integration with port logistics (leveraging port monitoring information), and environmental compliance monitoring, ultimately towards seamless integration with multimodal supply chains. By fostering 5G SA-enabled connectivity in maritime, rail, and urban transport systems, Multimodal-5G will reduce delays, optimize resource allocation, and improve cross-border transport resilience
Project Duration: 3 years (Start Date: 1 December 2025)
Website: To be launched
Towards the integration and harmonization of logistics operations
Europe’s fragmented transport system, characterized by a diverse range of national regulations, necessitates innovative solutions. This densely populated, polycentric landscape presents a unique opportunity to address congestion, decarbonize transport, and connect regions. Recognizing the transformative potential of hyperloop technology,
Hyper4Rail aims to shape future mobility by converging European efforts towards a standardized hyperloop system.
Led by the Hyperloop Development Program (HDP), Hyper4Rail brings together key European players – major hyperloop developers and Rail Europe members – to establish a common European hyperloop design concept at
Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2. This will be followed by demonstrating core subsystems at TRL 4 and defining pathways for industrialization and commercialization, underpinned by a business case that identifies potentially viable use cases. Aligning with the EU’s industrial strategy, Hyper4Rail fosters a technology-agnostic approach, leadership in standard setting, and the development of resilient passenger transport and supply chains.
Hyper4Rail pursues a two-pronged approach: (1) technical harmonization, industrialization roadmaps, and applicability studies at TRL 2; and (2) design concept and validation of key subsystems at TRL 4. This directly addresses the goals of the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking’s Multiannual Work Programme (MAWP), particularly Flagship Area 7: “Innovation on new approaches for guided transport modes”. As stated in the MAWP, this area seeks to explore “non-traditional and emerging flexible and/or high-speed guided transport systems,” including “new types of railway-based transport, such as ultra-high-speed trains”. Hyperloop technology aligns strongly with this vision, aiming to provide a socioeconomically efficient and long-term sustainable transport solution for citizens and businesses across Europe.
Project Duration: 2 years (Start Date: 1 December 2024)
Website: https://www.hyper4rail.eu/
Joint developments for Urban resiLIence connecting users to public transport through spAce technology
Today’s public transport often struggles with delays and disruptions that make journeys unpredictable. JULIA seeks to create a smarter public transport system by leveraging the power of space technology. The project aims to achieve significant improvements:
- Enhance efficiency and reliability for smoother operations and on-time arrivals for buses and trains.
- Increase safety in mobility infrastructure. E.g: cycle lanes.
- Provide a more attractive public transport experience with features that make it more convenient and appealing for travellers.
The JULIA project focuses on three key objectives:
- Showcase the unique benefits of Europe’s Global Navigation Satellite System (EGNSS) as a powerful booster for the public transport sector, enabling smoother operations and improved efficiency.
- Leverage data from the Copernicus Earth Observation program to help cities understand air quality and develop innovative solutions for cleaner, more sustainable mobility strategies.
- Foster knowledge sharing on the value of EGNSS and Copernicus to empower decision-makers to prioritise investments in space-based solutions and ensure a long-lasting legacy and a replicability of the tools created.
Project Duration: 2.5 years (Start Date: 1 June 2023)
Website: https://juliaproject.eu/
Transformation of Aviation and railway solutions towards Integration and Synergies is a multimodal innovation project for the aviation and railway (and maritime) sectors, focusing on multimodal common situation awareness and increased coordination between air/rail/waterborne transport modes to facilitate multimodal journeys.
Travel Wise’s main goal is to support the shift from traffic management in silos to intermodal traffic orchestration. This will be done by putting in place a methodology, a roadmap and the related technologies to allow for i) sharing of information between air and rail (mainly, but also maritime and road) operators, ii) intermodal collaborative decision making both in nominal situations and in case of disruptions, iii) optimization of passenger experience.
Travel Wise solution focuses on multimodal common situation awareness and increased coordination between air, rail, and waterborne transport modes to facilitate multimodal journeys, focusing on a pre-tactical and tactical time horizon. Based on traffic and passenger flows’ monitoring, the solution allows for increased multimodal coordination for seamless travelling but also for the capability to detect, anticipate and share potential multimodal issues with their impact.
The effectiveness of the Travel Wise solution relies on understanding the needs and expectations of its end users, as their feedback and involvement play a key role in shaping a solution that aligns with real world requirements.
Project Duration: 3 years (Start Date: 1 October 2024)
Website: https://travelwise-project.eu/
Towards the integration and harmonization of logistics operations
TRACE is a HORIZON project that targets to offer a universal platform with functionalities related to planning, scheduling, optimization and events management.
TRACE targets the aforementioned integration activities offering a universal platform with functionalities related to planning, scheduling, optimization and events management as well as the use of blockchain technology to facilitate the real time conclusion of smart contracts and financial operations, thus, becoming one of the first attempts to provide an ‘intelligent cover’ upon the current logistics frameworks.
TRACE also proposes new transfer corridors, safe areas where unmanned vehicles can collect items towards the final destination and new (virtual) hubs.
TRACE will perform studies related to the barriers towards the new logistics era, the new business opportunities, the requirements for the legislation and regulatory frameworks and expose the benefits of the proposed approach in terms of the reduction for energy demand and emissions while limiting the operational costs for logistics stakeholders.
Project Duration: 3 years (Start Date: 1 June 2023)
Website: https://trace-horizon.eu/