To achieve a sustainable modal shift from road to railways, the development of interoperable rail vehicle concepts is essential, as envisaged in the Vision 2020 of the ERRAC, demanding for smooth cross-operation between different transport routes and networks supported by advanced technologies.

The project European Driver’s Desk (EUDD), which was funded in FP5 by the European Commission, initiated the first development of European-wide applicable driver’s desk. The functionality was tested with several drivers in a simulation environment. To continue these efforts one step closer to a unified European driver’s desk to make efficient cross-boarder operations possible the project European Driver’s Desk Plus (EUDDplus) was devised.

• It bases and takes advantage on the integrated project MODTRAIN (working area EUCAB of MODLINK sub project).
• In EUDDplus a multi-system locomotive (PRIMA EL II) will be equipped with a desk mostly compliant to UIC leaflet 612 based on latest perception for locomotive application following the EUCAB intermediate results.
• In a field test at the Wegberg-Wildenrath Test-Validation Center with drivers from different EU member states the usability of the European Driver’s desk as part of an innovative vehicle concept will be proofed and cognitions for the serial implementation will be collected. This will be supported by reference test trails with a second multi-system locomotive (109E/ class 380 CD) in the Czech Republic in 2009.

Improved passive safety by considering results of SAFETRAIN and similar projects is part of the project background as well.