Europe: an open space for rolling stock?

Europe: an open space for rolling stock? IRSC October 2008 - Denver, USA

Contents Requirements of the EU regulations regarding rolling stock authorisation The practice: the gaps of the EU system  Rolling stock cross-acceptance principles  First examples  The future - Conclusion IRSC October 2008 - Denver, USA

EU regulations requirements • The directives: • Directive 2004/50/EC related to interoperability and amending directives 96/48/EC (HS) and 2001/16/EC (Conventional Rail) – article 14-1: • « Each Member State shall authorise the placing in service of those structural subsystems constituing the trans-European high speed/conventional rail system which are located or operated in its territory. » • Directive 2004/49/EC related to safety – article 14-1: Placing in service of in-use rolling stock: • « The rolling stock that has been authorised to be placed in service in one Member State and is not fully covered by the relevant TSI shall be authorised to be placed in service in another or other Member States … » IRSC October 2008 - Denver, USA

EU regulations requirements • The Technical Specifications of Interoperability (TSI): • TSI Rolling stock – freight wagons (conventional rail system), published on July 28th 2006 • TSI Rolling stock subsystem (high speed rail system), published on February 21st 2008 •  There will be very soon a TSI related to locomotives and passenger carriages on conventional rail system IRSC October 2008 - Denver, USA

Practice • Today, there are very few vehicles or locomotives able to comply with all the TSIs requirements. Consequently, each of them must be authorised following the entire procedure of technical file. • This situation raises up various problems that we can consider as obstacles for crossing the borders. • We can set out three main obstacles: time, money and overloading of work for NSAs IRSC October 2008 - Denver, USA

First obstacle: TIME • The directive 2004/49/EC allows a 4 months period to each NSA to make its decision regarding the file submitted. • In practice, it means that a locomotive needs at least one year in order to be authorised in 3 member States and to be able to operate services across the borders. IRSC October 2008 - Denver, USA

Second obstacle: MONEY€ • When studying the files submitted, each NSA can request additional proof (tests for instance) to verify the technical compliance of the rolling stock with its national network: the laboratories in charge of tests are not working for free! • The documents included in the files must be presented in national language, requiring expensive translations. • Usually, the NSAs are requesting payment for studying the files. • While NSAs are studying files, the rolling stock cannot operate services and the RU is loosing commercial opportunities. IRSC October 2008 - Denver, USA

Third obstacle: overloading of work for • NSAs • Each of the NSAs involved will do the same work for the same type of locomotive. • It means a big amount of files for a few new technologies. • At least three good reasons for finding a way to improve the European procedure! IRSC October 2008 - Denver, USA

Classification of technical criteria required for authorisation in three categories: A: equivalent rules for all the NSAs – acceptable once for all B: rules partly equivalent – require additional verification according to national rules C: criteria based on national rules only – must be fully verified by each NSA No requirement for translation of documents in national languages. Cross-acceptance principles IRSC October 2008 - Denver, USA

The cross-acceptance agreement requires a huge preparation between NSAs in order to assess each criteria according to national safety rules in each country involved. • It requires also a tight follow up by the NSAs according to the evolutions of the European (TSIs) and national safety rules. IRSC October 2008 - Denver, USA

Agreements already in force: Between Germany and France for locomotives, passenger carriages (high speed and conventional rail) Between Belgium, Luxembourg and France for wagons Between Switzerland and France for wagons and for locomotives and passenger carriages (high speed and conventional rail) Examples IRSC October 2008 - Denver, USA

Examples • Types of rolling stock already authorised:  TGV POS on Eastern HSL ICE 3 on Eastern HSL  locomotive Class 66 IRSC October 2008 - Denver, USA

Examples Some authorisations under way:  locomotive TRAXX F140 MS with Belgium and Germany  locomotive HLE 18 with Germany and Belgium  locomotive Gravita 10BB with Germany  railcar VT 643 with Germany  railcar FLIRT with Switzerland  locomotive EURO 4000 with Spain IRSC October 2008 - Denver, USA

The future • The principles of cross-acceptance agreements, initiated by French and German NSAs, are increasing all around Europe. • The outcome of this approach must be a continuous chain of agreements through Europe making possible for the operators to receive the necessary authorisations in a reasonable period of time. IRSC October 2008 - Denver, USA

Results of the approach: ◊saving time and money for the operators using the rolling stock ◊ saving time for the NSAs involved ◊strengthening confidence between NSAs ◊ contributing to harmonization of safety criteria in Europe Conclusion IRSC October 2008 - Denver, USA

Thank you for your attention! For further information, please visit our website: www.securite-ferroviaire.fr IRSC October 2008 - Denver, USA

Europe: an open space for rolling stock?