ERA Technical Specifications for Interoperability

The technical specifications for interoperability ( TSI) are technical regulations that are set by the European Commission for the Europe-wide interoperable rail traffic. With them, the properties are set, which must have the subsystems of the railways to get a consistently to be operated railway system. These subsystems include:

  • Infrastructure,
  • Energy,
  • Vehicles,
  • Control-Command and Signalling
  • Maintenance and operation.

For these sub- systems each TSI shall be adopted for the high speed rail and for the conventional transport. Cross-cutting themes ( fire safety, passengers with reduced mobility, sound) are treated in cross- TSI addition.

The specifications define technical requirements and their verification for the implementation of the general EC Directives 96/48/EC on the interoperability of the trans-European high -speed rail system and Directive 2001/16/EC have to settle for conventional rail systems, which as last amended by Directive 2004/50/EC and have now been consolidated into Directive 2008/57/EC on the interoperability of the rail system within the Community. TSI must be implemented by the Member States into national law. This is done in Germany by the Trans-European railway interoperability Regulation ( TEIV ).

Currently, the following TSIs are valid:

High-speed traffic

For high-speed traffic ( HGV) with speeds from 190 km / h, various regulations apply in the following table:

It is worth mentioning in particular the division into two high-speed classes:

Class 1: trains with a maximum speed of greater than or equal to 250 km / h

Class 2: trains with a maximum speed of at least 190 km / h but less than 250 km / h

In addition, there is also a specification of the speed-dependent dynamic wheel load, where the limit is 250 km / h but otherwise includes:

Conventional rail transport

The conventional rail traffic at a speed below 190 km / h governed by the following regulations:

HGV and conventional rail transport

TSI and union legal requirements for interoperability of the rail system

For new, upgraded or renewed subsystems according to chapter IV IOP RL 2008/57/EC is issued a certificate of EC verification in accordance with the required and described in the respective TSI EC conformity assessment procedures by a Notified Body, which is the basis of the verification and the authorization for placing ( see Article 20 of the IOP - RL).

Placing on the market of interoperability constituents, ie " components, group of components, subassembly or complete assembly of equipment incorporated into a subsystem or installed " ( type 1 lit f IOP RL 2008/57/EC ), is analogous to a method for creating an EC conformity and suitability for use (Chapter III, Article 10 ff IOP RL) prescribed.

The regulated in Chapter V IOP - RL EC certificate entitles its holder to declare the conformity with the requirements of the TSI for each vehicle of the relevant vehicle series. Without this declaration, a vehicle can not be put into operation.

For subsystems, for which there is no TSI, the national approval procedures remain applicable.

In Germany there are only a notified body named Railroad Cert. In other states, the EU further notified bodies are registered. The acquired with a notified body certificates are valid throughout Europe.

German railway signalling
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