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Dr. Armando Carrillo Zanuy
Secretary General, EURNEX e.V., European Rail Research Network of Excellence
Armando Carrillo Zanuy is an expert in railway engineering and logistics. He currently serves as Secretary General at EURNEX e.V., the European Rail Research Network of Excellence, where he has been instrumental since 2016. Prior to this, he was a researcher in TU Berlin FG Schienenfahrwege und Bahnbetrieb. Carrillo Zanuy holds a PhD in Railway Engineering from Technische Universität Berlin, with a focus on intermodal trains. He also earned a Master’s degree in Logistics and Transportation from the Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm (KTH), and a Civil Engineering degree from Universitat Politècnica de València. He is a member of the Steering Committee of ERRAC European Rail Research Advisory Council and member of the Management Committee of the TRA (Transport Research Arena). His extensive publication record and involvement in numerous European multimodal transport projects highlight his contributions to advancing railway research and development. He is currently coordinator of the projects Academics4Rail and PhDs EU-Rail both funded by Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking.
Strengthening European railways research – A strategic imperative
Rail research in Europe remains significantly underfunded compared to other transport modes, despite its crucial role in sustainable mobility, economic competitiveness, and European sovereignty. As global competition intensifies, ensuring a strong, innovative, and resilient rail sector is essential for Europe’s strategic autonomy and transport security, even defence.
ERRAC, the European Rail Research Advisory Council, advocates for a more balanced and inclusive research agenda. While Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail JU) has driven key projects, its industry-focused structure limits the participation of academia and SMEs, hindering scientific innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration. To ensure Europe’s leadership in rail technology, research funding must better support pioneering work in AI-driven predictive maintenance, resilient infrastructure, multimodal logistics, and digital transformation.
Investing in emerging technologies will enhance rail’s efficiency and security. Beyond technology, socio-economic research must improve passenger experience, sustainability, and inclusivity to keep rail at the heart of Europe’s mobility strategy. ERRAC urges a stronger commitment to rail research as a strategic pillar of Europe’s future. Increased funding, cross-sector collaboration, and innovation-driven policies are essential to securing rail’s role as a global leader in sustainable and competitive transport.
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