(26/01/2016)  Merlin is a collaborative research project funded by the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Innovation which started in October 2012 with the objective of optimizing energy consumption of railway system’s operation while ensuring a high level performance.

The aim is to optimise the power demand needed to operate and reduce the costs related to energy consumption by developing a strategic decision-making tool and a smart management system of the railway network in real time and oriented to daily operation.

The application of the results of the research program could mean a 10% reduction in the railway’s energy consumption.

Merlin Consortium

The Merlin Consortium is led by the Association of the European Rail Industry (UNIFE) and comprises 18 European organisations, four of which are Spanish: Adif, Renfe Operadora, CAF and Fundación de los Ferrocarriles Españoles itself.

The consortium also includes the International Union of Railways (UIC); French companies Alstom and RFF; Italian firms Ansaldo STS, Ansaldobreda (now known as Hiatchi), Mermec and D’Appolonia; Newcastle University in England and the British infrastructure manager Network Rail; German companies Siemens and RWTH Aachen University; Swedish firm Trafikverket; and the Czech group Oltis.