Sustainable bridges is a project which assesses the readiness of railway bridges to meet the demands of the 2020 scenario and provides the means for up-grading them if they fall short. The 2020 scenario requires increased capacities with heavier loads to be carried and bigger forces to be absorbed due to longer faster trains and mixed traffic. All type of bridges are being considered. In order to meet present and future demands on improved capacities for the passenger and freight traffic on the European railway network, it is of vital importance to upgrade the existing railway bridges and ensure that they will behave properly under increased loads and higher speeds. These demands can in many cases be met through assessment of the bridge structure, determination of the true behaviour of the structure, strengthening of certain portions of the bridge or by monitoring of critical properties. The existing codes for the design of bridges are formed to consider all the uncertainties that are present in the construction phase of a structure. These codes are also often used for the evaluation of existing bridges. However, many existing bridges can be allowed to carry greater loads and faster trains if improved codes and better methods for assessment are used. Research has shown that there is a great potential for big steps forward in all of these areas. Hence it is, within the frames of this project, the intention to develop a "toolbox" of new systems and methods for assessment, strengthening and monitoring of the European railway bridges. A new generation of methods that can be directly applied by the railway owners, by consultants and by contractors, will be presented and demonstrated ensuring the safe and proper behaviour of the bridges for new and higher demands.