The European Union has to bring its contribution to the establishment and development of Trans-European transport networks and to reach these targets, special measures are needed to ensure the interoperability of networks, especially technical harmonisation. Therefore, the European Association for Railway Interoperability has elaborated a project concerning the Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI), the subsystem “rolling stock-freight wagons”. In the EU, the TSIs came into force in 2006 under Directive 2006/861/EC. In two and a half years, the TSIs have been rigorously revised by a work group which included specialists in the area and the National Safety Authorities. Currently, the documents elaborated by this group are almost finalized and the TSI revision will be subject to debate being due to become effective in the second half of 2011.
“First of all, the changes concerning the TSIs will be implemented in the sector of freight wagons. Compared to the other railway vehicles, freight wagons were the most interoperable, the International Wagon Regulations (RIV) made sure they can be freely exploited across the entire Europe. However, the changes resulted from railway liberalisation need a completely different approach. We have to bear in mind the fact that before 1990, railway systems have been exploited by a single national operator, while today, we face a large variety of rail freight operators. The TSIs set up minimum specification for achieving the interoperability target on a single market, where there are several railway companies”, declared for Railway Pro, Ernest Godward, Project Officer – Economic Evaluation, European Railway Agency (ERA).
The subsystem rolling stock-freight wagons includes the structure of vehicles, the braking equipments, the coupling and rolling systems (bogies, axles etc.), the suspension, the doors and the communication equipments. Also, the TSIs include the procedures that concern the maintenance works, such as the mandatory corrective and preventive maintenance to ensure the well-functioning and safe operation, as well as the required performance.
“In general, the TSIs were necessary to create a harmonised European rail area, where the vehicles, infrastructure and operations fit together. Today, the sector is in general struggling with 2 main problems in connection with the TSIs: remaining open points in the regulations and non harmonised implementation of the regulations or different interpretation of them in she different member states. To overcome these problems must be the main focus of the European Commission and of the ERA work in short and medium term”, declared for Railway Pro Holger Segerer, Secretary General, International Union of Private Wagons (UIP).
The technical specifications for interoperability (TSI) clearly establish both the evaluation of a freight wagon in terms of interoperability, as well as the design and construction conditions, maintenance and monitoring of critical safety components which need to ensure safety within the targets set on the network.
In what concerns maintenance works, the TSIs apply to renewals, but not to replacements. However, EU Member States are encouraged to apply the TSIs to replacement works.
In regards to the TSIs’ implication in rail freight traffic “since 2006, the number of TSI compliant wagons has grown. Freight wagons are being upgraded or renewed. As part of the TSI revision impact, ERA has elaborated a quiz to check on the interoperability of the rolling stock fleet between 2007 and 2008. Conclusions show that only 0.1% of the wagon fleet was TSI compliant, while more than 71% was RIV compliant”, the ERA representative explained. Moreover, 28% of the rolling stock fleet was not compliant with the TSI or RIV, 77% of the wagons being used in national traffic. Only 4% were covered by bilateral agreements and 15% by multilateral or other international agreements, which enabled their exploitation in transit regime at border stations.
However, statistics show that after the crisis period, the railway freight transport market has begun to recover and the number of new or upgraded wagons will grow, which determines the development of the business sector in the area. New rolling stock will be TSI compliant which will contribute to the basic changes of the railway companies’ market.
“Railway companies plan to buy new wagons or modernise freight wagons to improve services. Moreover, companies need to prove that these wagons meet essential requirements in terms of safety, reliability, environment protection and technical compatibility”, concluded Ernest Godward.
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