Revolutionary mobility on historic rails: The European Commission has honored the EU-funded MONOCAB project from North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany, with the prestigious Regiostars Award. This prize recognizes EU-supported projects with outstanding, innovative, and inclusive approaches to regional development. From a record number of 266 submissions, a jury of experts from across Europe selected winners in five thematic categories, with an additional project receiving the public choice award. MONOCAB was recognized in the “A connected Europe” category.

Reimagining Mobility in NRW

The MONOCAB project addresses the challenge of restoring and enhancing mobility infrastructure in North Rhine-Westphalia. Project partners include the Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences and Arts (TH OWL), Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, and Fraunhofer IOSB-INA. MONOCAB received approximately €3.1 million in funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

MONOCAB is a gyro-stabilized monorail system featuring self-driving cabins for 4-6 passengers that travel in both directions on a SINGLE track. The compact design allows cabins traveling in opposite directions to pass each other seamlessly – operating like a paternoster system in continuous circulation. Passengers can summon cabins like taxis for individual journeys to villages or cities via a simple app, available 24/7, 365 days a year. Individual, automated, and on-demand – eliminating the seemingly endless wait times for infrequent rural bus services.

The project exemplifies the fusion of tradition and innovation by deploying cutting-edge transportation technology on historic railway infrastructure.

Other Award Winners

Additional winners include initiatives ranging from carbon loss reduction in Atlantic peatlands to a virtual library for people with reading disabilities in Lithuania and a modern ecological shopping center in Belgium. One EU-funded project, the AGEO initiative involving Portugal, Spain, France, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, received two awards including the public choice prize. This project focuses on geohazard management in the Atlantic region.

Further Information

All awarded projects

MONOCAB OWL

Official Press Release European Commission