Objective Rail mass transit vehicles which are defined as 'trams, light rail, metros' do very often not behave as expected when running on the existing rail infrastructure, although the vehicles may well be fully compatible with the specifications of the buying authorities and they may well have passed the acceptance tests. A particular vehicle may perform well in one particular network and the same vehicle can show important problems in another network. Many operators have different types of vehicles on their infrastructure. Most operators have also different types of track systems in their network. They want the different existing and future vehicles to perform well in their complete existing and future network. This is one of the reasons why most vehicles today are built to local specifications. It is mandatory to first solve some major track related problems before to be able to increase the technical harmonisation for vehicles and hence the potential of these vehicles to be used in other cities. The advantages will be enormous: higher residual value of vehicles, higher scope for vehicle leasing, higher vehicle production series and hence reduction of manufacturing cost and production lead times. The major track related problems which are to be identified and solved are: ? the reduction of the track degradation in time for ensuring a minimum track quality level; ? the avoidance of derailment for ensuring the safety at all times; ? the improvement of the wheel/rail interface for reducing maintenance; ? the minimisation of noise and in particular structure borne noise and vibrations. The study (problem identification and solution) of the above track related problems is the scope of this research project. Solutions will be sought which are effective for existing and future vehicle types albeit that some vehicle (wheel set) adaptations might be recommended or required'. Keywords Capacity increase in Urban Transport Derailment Fatigue Infrastructure-Vehicle-Interaction Noise Track Degradation Vibration Programme(s) FP6-SUSTDEV - Sustainable Development, Global Change and Ecosystems: thematic priority 6 under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006. Topic(s) SUSTDEV-2002-3.1.1.1.2 - High quality public transport Call for proposal FP6-2002-TRANSPORT-1 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project Coordinator FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V. EU contribution No data Address Bartningstraat,47 DARMSTADT Germany See on map Total cost No data Participants (8) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET DARMSTADT Germany EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data LUCCHINI SIDERMECCANICA SPA Italy EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data POLITECNICO DI MILANO Italy EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data DYNAMICS, STRUCTURES AND SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL SA Belgium EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data ANSALDOBREDA S.P.A. Italy EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data AMEC SPIE RAIL France EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data SOCIETE DES TRANSPORTS INTERCOMMUNAUX DE BRUXELLES Belgium EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data SILESIAN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY Poland EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data