Wabtec, Fret SNCF and RDT13 to expand freight rail in Europe through the MONITOR Project

Wabtec Corporation, French national operator Fret SNCF and regional operator RDT13 (Régie des Transports des Bouches du Rhône) has launched the MONITOR Project, the first innovation project of the French Rail Freight of the Future (4F) coalition to accelerate the development of the rail freight industry in Europe.

The MONITOR Project consists of equipping railcars with sensors to monitor and prevent the risks of derailment, untimely brake applications and to reduce train preparation time. Ultimately, it could help reduce maintenance costs and contribute to the European Union’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

The MONITOR Project focuses on four key technologies, brought together for the first time: radio communication between cars along the train; brake monitoring; bogie monitoring; and automated brake testing.

This project was funded by the French State as part of France 2030 operated by ADEME, the French agency for ecological transition. It will last three and a half years. The solutions will be developed by Wabtec based on needs established by the Consortium, before being tested in real conditions on the rolling stock of the SNCF and RDT 13. For Wabtec, this project will generate new jobs in France with high added value.

“The MONITOR Project has the potential to transform the development of freight rail in Europe,” said Lilian Leroux, President of Wabtec Global Transit and Freight Europe. “We are delighted to bring our experience of innovative railway technologies to develop fully digitalised freight train operations. By developing the attractiveness of rail in Europe, we will contribute to the European Union’s goals of doubling the modal share of rail to 30 percent by 2030, helping to reduce CO2 emissions.”

“The digitalisation of freight represents a major opportunity for rail operators in terms of operating safety, productivity, attractiveness of our professions and improvement of working conditions, said Frédéric Delorme, president of Rail Logistics Europe at SNCF. “Fret SNCF is playing a major role in the MONITOR Project, an essential brick in preparing the autonomous freight train of tomorrow, by sharing its expertise and feedback on freight train operations, and by testing new solutions in real conditions on board its locomotives and the wagons it operates.”

“Rail freight uses six times less energy, emits eight times less pollution and nine times less carbon than a comparable journey by road, said Paul Sillou, CEO of RTD 13.” We are proud to contribute to this innovative project that will bring major benefits to French and European rail.”

MONITOR is the latest in a series of freight innovation projects involving Wabtec in Europe. The company is also a founding member of Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (ERJU), a major project aimed at developing fully digitalised, interoperable, high-capacity, sustainable rail freight operations.

For more information visit www.wabteccorp.com