Infrastructure

Source: © EBC

The following Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) are the basis of the activities in the Infrastructure unit:

• TSI ”Infrastructure“ (INS) of the trans-European high-speed rail system
• TSI “Infrastructure“ of the trans-European conventional rail system,
• TSI ”Safety in Railway Tunnels“ (SRT), applicable for the trans-European high-speed rail system and the trans-European conventional rail system
• TSI ”Persons with reduced Mobility“ (PRM), also applicable for the
  entire rail system.

The EC verification process for the Infrastructure subsystem is generally split into three phases:

• Detailed design
• Execution design
• Construction, before putting into service

In the first phase “Detailed design“ all requirements relevant for the national planning approval procedure are assessed. In Germany the conclusion of this phase is a precondition for the approval to put into the service by the Federal Railway Authority.

In the second phase “Execution design“ all further design parameters as well as changes in the previously considered parameters are assessed. After successful completion of this phase an “Interim Statement Verification” can be issued on request of the applicant, indicating the conclusion of the design phase.

The third phase “Construction, before putting into service” is comprising the assessment of all requirements relevant for placing in service. In the scope of the TSI PRM additional parameters need to be assessed under service conditions. An EC Certificate of Verification will be issued by EISENBAHN-CERT after successful completion of this last phase.

After the Infrastructure TSI came into force the first EC Certificates were issued in 2004, e. g. for the upgraded line Hamburg – Berlin and the new line Karlsruhe – Basel with section Rastatt (Süd) – Ottersweier.

As the major projects supporting the Football World Cup 2006, EISENBAHNCERT certified the upgraded line Berlin - Halle/Leipzig, the new line Nuremberg – Ingolstadt , the rail traffic junction of Berlin with upgraded and new lines and the new Berlin Central station.

Numerous EC verification procedures are contiuosly been launched by EISENBAHN-CERT. Also for the conventional rail system several applications for EC verification for tunnels and stations have been launched started.

In the field of interoperability constituents for the infrastructure subsystem a large amount of certificates have been issued for switches, sleepers and rail fastening systems. Interoperability constituents for ballast track and slab track, certified from the infrastructure unit, are used in several European member states, for example the switches and rail fastening systems of the new HSL ZUID line in the Netherlands.

With these successful certifications the infrastructure unit has demonstrated its comprehensive know-how, competence and reliability as well as prompt execution in all main fields of activity.