Common technical standards

The European rail system must meet the Essential Requirements in relation to 5 categories:

• Safety
• Reliability and availability
• Health
• Environmental protection
• Technical compatibility

The manner in which these essential requirements are to be met by each subsystem is specified within technical requirements for each subsystem.  These requirements are described within TSIs.  Railway interoperability will be achieved across Europe by the application of these specifications as railway assets are renewed or upgraded and new assets are built.

At present, the diversity of the European network means that it is not always possible to define and implement the specifications to deliver full interoperability.  In addition, there are some parts of the rail system for which no TSI has yet been made.  Therefore where necessary, and in order to ensure that the Essential Requirements are met, each Member State augments the TSIs with a suite of national technical rules.  The Member State is required to notify the EC of its rules, and once notified, these are referred to as Notified National Technical Rules (NNTRs).

The Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2006 require that in order to certify compliance, the NoBo must be satisfied that the design specification for, and the manufacture of, a project subsystem meets  the relevant TSIs and the NNTRs where applicable to that subsystem and thus satisfies the Essential Requirements. 

The TSIs now in place for the High Speed and for the Conventional rail systems, with their dates of coming into force in the UK, are set out in these tables:

• UK Coming into force dates for TSIs (PDF, 34KB)
• TSI descriptions (PDF, 35KB)
  A summary of the scope of each TSI, and its interfaces with other TSIs, is given in this table.
• TSI revision and development programme (PDF, 18KB)
  A summary of the programme and progress of review of existing TSIs and preparation of new TSIs is given in this table.

[1] NoBo - Notified Body

About Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs)

A page to explain the what, when, how, why of TSIs, and links to view and download the documents.

Published:

10 April 2008

About Functional TSIs

Functional TSIs govern the operation and maintenance of a subsystem, and as such their requirements are not within the scope of the Authorisation.

Published:

10 April 2008

About Notified National Technical Rules (NNTRs)

Notified National Technical Rules (NNTRs) address the residual open points in TSIs, and also enable Contracting Entities to fulfil the Essential Requirements where the relevant TSI is not yet in force. Links to to view and download the tables of NNTRs.