Introduction

Social and economic growth, security, and sustainability in Europe are at risk of being compromised due to aging and failing railway infrastructure systems. This partly reflects a recognized skill shortage in railway infrastructure engineering. To tackle these challenges, the Rail Infrastructure Systems Engineering Network (RISEN) was accordingly established and funded by the European Commission. RISEN aims to enhance knowledge creation and transfer using both international and intersectoral secondment mechanisms among European Advanced Rail Research Universities/SMEs and non-EU, world-class rail universities. The outcome of the collaborative research network are thus complied and presented in this book.

This book addresses some of the most essential issues currently affecting the safety, reliability, and functionality of European rail infrastructure systems. Rebuilding and enhancing urban rail infrastructure faces problems beyond the search for engineering solutions. At present, the majority of rail infrastructure systems are aging and failing. Some have even reached their initial design lives and are due for replacement or renewal, either partially or totally. In addition, these issues resonate with one of the major grand challenges of engineering to restore and improve urban infrastructure and build environments; to do this, it will not only be necessary to devise new approaches and methods but also to communicate their value and worthiness to society at large. Complexity and interconnectedness of these barriers have a strong momentum, which now triggers a fundamental need for academia, industry, communities, and governments to work collaboratively to tackle aggregated problems and make a positive difference globally. To resolve the challenges, this book thus compiles state-of-the-art knowledge that underpins various policies to overcome environmental and physical barriers toward a more sustainable and resilience railway.