Commission Regulation (EU) No 1299/2014 of 18 November 2014 on the technical specifications for interoperability relating to the ‘infrastructure’ subsystem of the rail system in the European Union Text with EEA relevance

Article 1

Subject matter

The technical specification for interoperability (TSI) relating to the ‘infrastructure’ subsystem of the rail system in the entire European Union, as set out in the Annex, is hereby adopted.

Article 2

Scope

Article 3

Open points

Within six months of the entry into force of this Regulation, each Member State shall send to the other Member States and the Commission of the following information, unless such information has already been sent to them under Decisions 2008/217/EC or 2011/275/EU:

(a) the national rules referred to in paragraph 1;

(b) the conformity assessment and verification procedures to be carried out to apply the national rules referred to in paragraph 1;

(c) the bodies designated to carry out the conformity assessment and verification procedures with respect to the open points.

Article 4

Specific cases

Within six months of the entry into force of this Regulation, each Member State shall notify to the other Member States and the Commission the following information:

(a) the national rules referred to in paragraph 1;

(b) the conformity assessment and verification procedures to be carried out to apply the national rules referred to in paragraph 1;

(c) the bodies designated to carry out the conformity assessment and verification procedures for the national rules relating to the specific cases set out in point 7.7 of the Annex.

Article 5

Notification of bilateral agreements

Article 6

Projects at an advanced stage of development

Article 7 (2) of Directive (EU) 2016/797 applies.

Article 7

‘EC’ certificate of verification

During the transitional period set out in paragraph 1:

(a) the reasons for non-certification of any interoperability constituents shall be properly identified by the notified body before granting the ‘EC’ certificate pursuant to  Article 15 of Directive (EU) 2016/797;

(b) the national safety authorities, pursuant to  Article 16(2)(d) of Directive (EU) 2016/798 of the European Parliament and of the Council (²), shall report on the use of non-certified interoperability constituents in the context of authorisation procedures in their annual report referred to in  Article 19 of Directive (EU) 2016/798.

Article 8

Conformity assessment

Article 9

Implementation

Without prejudice to Article 20 of Directive 2008/57/EC, Member States shall prepare a national implementation plan, describing their actions to comply with this TSI, in accordance with section 7 of the Annex. Member States shall send their national implementation plan to the other Member States and the Commission by 31 December 2015. Member States that have already sent their implementation plan do not have to send it again.

Article 10

Innovative solutions

Article 11

Repeal

Decisions 2008/217/EC and 2011/275/EU are repealed with effect from 1 January 2015.

They shall however continue to apply to:

(a) subsystems authorised in accordance with those Decisions;

(b) projects for new, renewed or upgraded subsystems which, at the date of publication of this Regulation, are at an advanced stage of development or are the subject of an on-going contract.

Article 12

Entry into force

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 January 2015. However, an authorisation for placing in service may be granted in accordance with the TSI as set out in the Annex to this Regulation before 1 January 2015.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

ANNEX

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1.   Technical Scope

This TSI concerns the infrastructure subsystem and part of the maintenance subsystem of the Union rail system in accordance with Article 1 of Directive (EU) 2016/797.

The infrastructure and the maintenance subsystems are defined respectively in points 2.1 and 2.8 of Annex II to Directive (EU) 2016/797.

The technical scope of this TSI is further defined in Article 2(1), 2(5) and 2(6) of this Regulation.

1.2.   Geographical Scope

The geographical scope of this TSI is defined in Article 2(4) of this Regulation.

1.3.   Content of this TSI

(1) In accordance with Article 4(3) of Directive (EU) 2016/797, this TSI: (a) indicates its intended scope (section 2); (b) lays down essential requirements for the infrastructure and part of the maintenance subsystems (section 3); (c) establishes the functional and technical specifications to be met by the infrastructure and part of the maintenance subsystems and its interfaces vis-à-vis other subsystems (section 4); (d) specifies the interoperability constituents and interfaces which must be covered by European specifications, including European standards, which are necessary to achieve interoperability within the Union rail system (section 5); (e) states, in each case under consideration, which procedures are to be used in order to assess the conformity or the suitability for use of the interoperability constituents, on the one hand, or the EC verification of the subsystems, on the other hand (section 6); (f) indicates the strategy for implementing this TSI (section 7); (g) indicates, for the staff concerned, the professional qualifications and health and safety conditions at work required for the operation and maintenance of the infrastructure subsystem, as well as for the implementation of this TSI (section 4); (h) indicates the provisions applicable to the existing infrastructure subsystem, in particular in the event of upgrading and renewal and, in such cases, the modification work which requires an application for a new authorisation; (i) indicates the parameters of infrastructure subsystem to be checked by the railway undertaking and the procedures to be applied to check those parameters after the delivery of the vehicle authorisation for placing on the market and before the first use of the vehicle to ensure compatibility between vehicles and the routes on which they are to be operated. In accordance with Article 4(5) of the Directive (EU) 2016/797, provisions for specific cases are indicated in section 7.

(2) Requirements in this TSI are valid for all track gauge systems within the scope of this TSI, unless a paragraph refers to specific track gauge systems or to specific nominal track gauges.

2. DEFINITION AND SCOPE OF SUBSYSTEM

2.1.   Definition of the infrastructure subsystem

This TSI covers:

(a) the infrastructure structural subsystem

(b) the part of the maintenance functional subsystem relating to the infrastructure subsystem (that is: washing plants for external cleaning of trains, water restocking, refuelling, fixed installations for toilet discharge and electrical shore supplies).

The elements of the infrastructure subsystem are described in point 2.1 of Annex II to Directive (EU) 2016/797.

The elements of the maintenance subsystem are described in point 2.8 of Annex II to Directive (EU) 2016/797.

The scope of this TSI therefore includes the following aspects of the infrastructure subsystem:

(a) Line layout,

(b) Track parameters,

(c) Switches and crossings,

(d) Track resistance to applied loads,

(e) Structures resistance to traffic loads,

(f) Immediate action limits on track geometry defects,

(g) Platforms,

(h) Health, safety and environment,

(i) Provision for operation,

(j) Fixed installations for servicing trains.

Further details are set out in point 4.2.2 of this TSI.

2.2.   Interfaces of this TSI with other TSIs

Point 4.3 of this TSI sets out the functional and technical specification of the interfaces with the following subsystems, as defined in the relevant TSIs:

(a) Rolling stock subsystem,

(b) Energy subsystem,

(c) Control command and signalling subsystem,

(d) Traffic operation and management subsystem.

Interfaces with the Persons with Reduced Mobility TSI (PRM TSI) are described in point 2.3 below.

Interfaces with the Safety in Railway Tunnels TSI (SRT TSI) are described in point 2.4 below.

2.3.   Interfaces of this TSI with the Persons with Reduced Mobility TSI

All requirements relating to the infrastructure subsystem for the access of persons with reduced mobility to the railway system are set out in the Persons with Reduced Mobility TSI.

2.4.   Interfaces of this TSI with the Safety in Railway Tunnels TSI

All requirements relating to the infrastructure subsystem for safety in railway tunnels are set out in the Safety in Railway Tunnels TSI.

2.5.   Relation to the safety management system

Necessary processes to manage safety and operations according to the requirements in the scope of this TSI, including interfaces to humans, organisations, or other technical systems, shall be designed and implemented in the infrastructure manager's safety management system as required by Directive (EU) 2016/798.

2.6.   Relation to the codification of Combined Transport

(1)The provisions for structure gauge are laid down in point 4.2.3.1.

(2)The codification system used for the conveyance of intermodal loading units in combined transport shall be in accordance with the specification referenced in Appendix T, index [A]. It can be based on:

(a) the characteristics of the line and the exact position of the obstacles;

(b) the reference profile of the structure gauge of that line;

(c) a combination of the methods referred to in points (a) and (b).

3. ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

The following table indicates basic parameters of this TSI and their correspondence to the essential requirements as set out and numbered in Annex III to  Directive (EU) 2016/797.

TSI point	Title of TSI point	Safety	Reliability Availability	Health	Environ-mental protection	Technical compatibility	Accessibility
4.2.3.1	Structure gauge	1.1.1, 2.1.1				1.5
4.2.3.2	Distance between track centres	1.1.1, 2.1.1				1.5
4.2.3.3	Maximum gradients	1.1.1				1.5
4.2.3.4	Minimum radius of horizontal curve	1.1.3				1.5
4.2.3.5	Minimum radius of vertical curve	1.1.3				1.5
4.2.4.1	Nominal track gauge					1.5
4.2.4.2	Cant	1.1.1, 2.1.1				1.5	1.6.1
4.2.4.3	Cant deficiency	1.1.1				1.5
4.2.4.4	Abrupt change of cant deficiency	2.1.1
4.2.4.5	Equivalent conicity	1.1.1, 1.1.2				1.5
4.2.4.6	Railhead profile for plain line	1.1.1, 1.1.2				1.5
4.2.4.7	Rail inclination	1.1.1, 1.1.2				1.5
4.2.5.1	Design geometry of switches and crossings	1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3				1.5
4.2.5.2	Use of swing nose crossings	1.1.2, 1.1.3
4.2.5.3	Maximum unguided length of fixed obtuse crossings	1.1.1, 1.1.2				1.5
4.2.6.1	Track resistance to vertical loads	1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3				1.5
4.2.6.2	Longitudinal track resistance	1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3				1.5
4.2.6.3	Lateral track resistance	1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3				1.5
4.2.7.1	Resistance of new bridges to traffic loads	1.1.1, 1.1.3				1.5
4.2.7.2	Equivalent vertical loading for new earthworks and earth pressure effects imposed on new structures	1.1.1, 1.1.3				1.5
4.2.7.3	Resistance of new structures over or adjacent to tracks	1.1.1, 1.1.3				1.5
4.2.7.4	Resistance of existing bridges and earthworks to traffic loads	1.1.1, 1.1.3				1.5
4.2.8.1	The immediate action limit for alignment	1.1.1, 1.1.2	1.2
4.2.8.2	The immediate action limit for longitudinal level	1.1.1, 1.1.2	1.2
4.2.8.3	The immediate action limit for track twist	1.1.1, 1.1.2	1.2
4.2.8.4	The immediate action limit of track gauge as isolated defect	1.1.1, 1.1.2	1.2
4.2.8.5	The immediate action limit for cant	1.1.1, 1.1.2	1.2
4.2.8.6	The immediate action limit for switches and crossings	1.1.1, 1.1.2	1.2			1.5
4.2.9.1	Usable length of platforms	1.1.1, 2.1.1				1.5
4.2.9.2	Platform height	1.1.1, 2.1.1				1.5	1.6.1
4.2.9.3	Platform offset	1.1.1, 2.1.1				1.5	1.6.1
4.2.9.4	Track layout alongside platforms	1.1.1, 2.1.1				1.5	1.6.1
4.2.10.1	Maximum pressure variations in tunnels	1.1.1, 2.1.1				1.5
4.2.10.2	Effect of cross winds	1.1.1, 2.1.1	1.2			1.5
4.2.10.3	Aerodynamic effect on ballasted track	1.1.1	1.2			1.5
4.2.11.1	Location markers	1.1.1	1.2
4.2.11.2	Equivalent conicity in service	1.1.1, 1.1.2				1.5
4.2.12.2	Toilet discharge	1.1.5	1.2	1.3.1		1.5
4.2.12.3	Train external cleaning facilities		1.2			1.5
4.2.12.4	Water restocking	1.1.5	1.2	1.3.1		1.5
4.2.12.5	Refuelling	1.1.5	1.2	1.3.1		1.5
4.2.12.6	Electric shore supply	1.1.5	1.2			1.5
4.4	Operating rules		1.2
4.5	Maintenance rules		1.2
4.6	Professional qualifications	1.1.5	1.2
4.7	Health and safety conditions	1.1.5	1.2	1.3	1.4.1

4. DESCRIPTION OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE SUBSYSTEM

4.1.   Introduction

(1) The Union rail system, to which  Directive (EU) 2016/797 applies and of which the infrastructure and maintenance subsystems are parts, is an integrated system whose consistency needs to be verified. This consistency must be checked in particular with regard to the specifications of the infrastructure subsystem, its interfaces in relation to the other subsystems of the Union rail system in which it is integrated, as well as the operating and maintenance rules.

(2) The limiting values set out in this TSI are not intended to be imposed as usual design values. However the design values must be within the limits set out in this TSI.

(3) The functional and technical specifications of the infrastructure and part of the maintenance subsystems and their interfaces, as described in points 4.2 and 4.3, do not impose the use of specific technologies or technical solutions, except where this is strictly necessary for the interoperability of the Union rail system.

(4) Innovative solutions for interoperability which do not fulfil the requirements specified in this TSI and/or which are not assessable as stated in this TSI require new specifications and/or new assessment methods. In order to allow technological innovation, these specifications and assessment methods shall be developed by the process for innovative solutions described in Article 10.

(5) Where reference is made to EN standards, any variations called ‘national deviations’ in the EN do not apply, unless otherwise specified in this TSI.

(6) Where line speeds are stated in [km/h] as a category or performance parameter in this TSI, it shall be allowed to translate the speed to equivalent [mph] as in Appendix G, for Ireland and for the networks of the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland.

4.2.   Functional and technical specifications of the infrastructure subsystem

(1) The elements of the Union's rail network are set out in point 1 of Annex I to Directive (EU) 2016/797. In order to deliver interoperability cost-effectively, each element of the Union's rail network shall be assigned a ‘TSI category of line’.