X2Rail-1 addresses the S2R-CFM-IP2-01-2015 “Start-up activities for Advanced Signalling and Automation System” call issued by the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking as part of the Innovation Programme 2 “Advanced Traffic Management & Control Systems”.

The X2Rail-1 project aims to research and develop six selected key technologies to foster innovations in the field of railway signalling and automation systems towards a flexible, real-time, intelligent traffic management and decision support system.

The actions to be undertaken in the scope of X2Rail-1 are related to the following specific objectives:

• To overcome the limitations of the existing communication systems by adapting radio communication systems which establish the backbone for the next generation advanced rail automation systems.
• To improve the usable track capacity by introducing more Automatic Train Operation (ATO) systems and Moving Block systems.
• To innovate the signalling architectures towards more decentralized and less cost intensive systems by incorporating Moving Block systems and Smart Wayside Objects. 
• To minimize energy consumption and to improve train punctuality through more extensive use of Automatic Train Operation (ATO) systems.
• To increase innovation in the field of lab testing by developing architectures for new lab test systems and simulations for control, command and communication systems in order to reduce costs. 
• To ensure security among all connected signalling and control systems by developing new cyber security systems dedicated to railways.
• To ensure the backward compatibility of ERMTS/ETCS technologies, notwithstanding of the required functional enrichment of the future signalling and control systems.