FR8RAIL III: Smart data-based assets and efficient rail freight operation

Description of the Project

The FR8RAIL III project, part of the Shift2Rail program, focuses on the development of advanced technologies for the freight railway sector in Europe. Its goal is to improve operational efficiency and sustainability of rail freight transport through innovative solutions and digitalization.

Main objectives:

1. Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM): Implement predictive maintenance strategies that optimize the availability and reliability of railway assets, reducing operational costs and downtime.  
2. Terminal Management with Intelligent Video Gates (IVG): Develop and install intelligent video systems at terminals for the automatic and rapid detection of incoming and outgoing assets, improving operational efficiency and security in the supply chain.  
3. Expanded Market Wagon (EMW): Integrate components and subsystems into the mechanical and electrical design of a new type of wagon, tailored to market needs and complying with European noise and safety standards.  
4. Telematics and Electrification of the Wagon: Develop telematics and electrification systems that enable the digitalization and automation of wagon functions, such as load monitoring and automatic train configuration.

Industrial partners

Indra's rol

Indra plays a key role in the FR8RAIL III project, contributing to advancements in real-time network management, intelligent video gates, and telematics for rail freight.

1. Real-Time Network Management: Indra collaborates on developing methods for capacity planning, integrating information platforms, and conducting operational demonstrations to optimize rail network efficiency and performance.
2. Intelligent Video Gate (IVG): Indra leads the AI and computer vision efforts, enhancing wagon identification, defect detection, and processing capabilities, while exploring cloud-based solutions for scalable image analysis.
3. Telematics and Electrification: Indra contributes to defining and testing innovative subsystems for intelligent wagons, such as on-board weighting systems and energy harvesters, advancing sustainable and efficient rail freight operations.

Universities and technology centers

Technologies employed

Indra employs a range of cutting-edge technologies to drive innovation and efficiency in the FR8RAIL III project, contributing to the modernization of the European rail freight system. These technologies include:

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI): Leveraging deep learning and computer vision to improve image processing, automate defect detection, and enhance wagon and container identification.
2. Cloud Computing: Developing cloud-based solutions for real-time image processing, data sharing, and advanced recognition functionalities.
3. Information Integration Platforms: Designing centralized platforms to facilitate seamless data exchange between rail network systems, terminals, and yards.
4. Telematics Systems: Contributing to the creation of intelligent wagon subsystems, such as on-board weighting systems and localization algorithms.
5. Energy Harvesting Technology: Defining axle-mounted energy harvesting solutions to sustainably power electronic systems.
6. Network Simulation and Planning Tools: Supporting simulation-based capacity planning and delay prediction for optimizing real-time operations across rail networks and yards.

More information

This Project, with file number 881778, has been financed by the European Commission through the H2020 programme, within the Shift2Rail initiative, of which Indra is an associate member.