The development trends of technical solutions in rolling stock and railway infrastructure have traditionally been shaped by various regulations, guidelines, and research programs both within the EU and globally. Within the European Union, a kind of roadmap has been defined for research and development activities, identifying specific smart specializations for each financial framework period. This paper discusses industrial development prospects, among others in relation to production processes. It emphasizes the evolution of component design in rail vehicle manufacturing, which brings notable advantages in terms of both production efficiency (through simplified manufacturing technologies) and the processes of operation and maintenance. Moreover, the study outlines selected trends observed in railway infrastructure.