Brussels, 02/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - During a meeting on 27 June in Brussels, the European Rail Research Advisory Council (ERRAC) set out its second strategic agenda 2020 (launched in 2002) to achieve the aim of doubling market share in rail transport by 2020. In their agenda, operators, infrastructure managers, academics and users' groups, together with the European Commission and member states identify seven priority research areas. Intelligent Mobility - for a European-wide infrastructure to support customer information systems; Energy and Environment - increasing the level of environmental protection and safeguarding the commercial competitiveness of rail; Personal Security - improving security for customers and staff; Test, Homologation and Security - speeding up of product approvals while squeezing out risk through improved safety management; Competitiveness and enabling technologies - improving product attractiveness for customers and reducing life cycle costs through modern technology; Strategy and Economics - developing new accounting and planning models for the costs of rail infrastructure; and Infrastructure - developing cost effective maintenance, and maintenance-free interoperable infrastructure systems. ERRAC was set up by the European Commission in order to reach consensus on priorities in the sector and to guide research efforts towards a common strategy. (aby)