VUZ is involved in national and international research projects in the field of railway systems and rail transport. It works closely together with leading manufacturers, academic institutions, and professional organizations in the Czech Republic, and within and outside the European Union. VUZ’s   experts are members of expert groups, committees and organizations specializing mainly in state-of-the-art control and signalling systems, friction brake element properties and noise and vibrations topics.

Research projects

CARBODIN project no. 881814 (S2R-OC-IP1-01-2019)

Basic info:

• Start of the project: 1 Dec 2019
• End of the project: 30 Nov 2021
• Project budget:  EUR 3,549,291.25
• Call S2R-OC-IP1-01-2019

Project objectives:

The project focuses on implementation of composite materials into railway vehicles, as well as on improving properties/conditions related to train driving and travelling. The project outputs will combine various production techniques, automation concepts, introduction of co-cured and co-bonded composite parts. The VUZ’s role in the project consists in analysis of the relevant TSI standards and related EN standards for the purpose of assessment of the project’s technical solution that is necessary for successful transition of a new product from the development phase to the test phase or start of mass production respectively. 

The output of the PIVOT and PIVOT2 projects are functional prototypes of rolling stock parts using innovative materials (composite technology). The task of the CARBODIN project is to follow up with the results of these projects and secure production technology for serial production.

INNOWAG project no. 730863 (S2R-OC-IP5-03-2015)

• Start of the project: 1 Nov 2015
• End of the project: 30 Apr 2019
• Project budget: EUR 1,500,562.50
• Call S2R-OC-IP5-03-2015

Project objectives:

The project’s objective is to develop new solutions for intelligent monitoring of freight wagon status and predictive maintenance, which can in connection with a new light wagon concept respond to the current challenges in the field of competitiveness, attractiveness and sustainability of the European freight railway transport.

TrainLoc project no. TIRSMD707 (TAČR programme BETA)

• Start of the project: 1 Aug 2019
• End of the project: 31 Dec 2021
• Project budget: CZK 7,906,240.80
• Call TAČR programme BETA

Project objectives:

The objective of the project “TIRSMD707 Design and verification of conditions for deployment of safe train GNSS locators in the Czech railway network” is to examine the impact of the railway environment (technical aspect) for the purpose of verification of conditions and requirements for deployment of safe train GNSS locators. Moreover, to develop a procedure for reception quality and GNSS signal interference degree testing in the Czech railway network, taking into account the legislation aspects including the international element.

RegioHyt project no. TO01000324 (TAČR programme KAPPA)

• Start of the project: 1/2021
• End of the project: 4/2024
• Project budget: EUR 627,720
• Call TAČR programme KAPPA (Programme CZ RESEARCH EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021)

Project objectives:

The objective of the project “TO01000324 Regional hydrogen trains on Czech Railways” is to analyse the Czech railway lines and localize areas where hydrogen trains would constitute a technological, financially efficient and environmentally friendly solution compared to other technologies. The study will collect initial data, mainly from non-electrified railway lines where diesel trains are operated. By means of a methodology and software developed by SINTEF, a technological/financial analysis of selected regional lines will be carried out and individual train propulsion systems (diesel, battery, hydrogen and hybrid) will be compared. The output will enable identification of preferred areas with positive technological, financial and environmental results for deployment of hydrogen trains and replacement of diesel trains that will be put out of operation in the future on non-electrified railway lines.

RailEnergy

The project’s objective is to reduce energy consumption on European railways by 6% by 2020, look for solutions leading to reduction of energy consumption of rolling stock, railway infrastructure and operation (scenarios, models, methodologies, simulations, etc.). VUZ participates in SP3 – "Trackside" working group dealing with energy savings resulting from modification of components of the existing traction systems and traction system innovations. The project ran from September 2006 till the end of 2010.

The aim was to arrange measurement of electrical parameters of the traction lines and parameters of the power supply station at the VUZ Test Centre Velim for the purpose of verification of the functionality and accuracy of the simulation programme simulating these parameters. The project outputs became a part of the Technical Recommendation – TechRec00_001 Specification and verification of energy consumption for railway rolling stock, which will form the basis of the EN proposal. More at www.railenergy.org.