Interoperability of the European Rail network is at the heart of the EU strategy to revitalise the rail transport sector by promoting an open market in supply of equipment and services. Two Directives, affecting High Speed and Conventional networks are already part of European Law.

In the UK, the High Speed Directive already covers new build and major upgrades to the East Coast, West Coast and Great Western main lines, also the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, and applies to all trains which can operate at 200km/h anywhere in the UK. Conventional Directive will apply to most of the remainder of the network.

The philosophy used in each Directive is that the various categories of equipment, eg rolling stock, signalling, track, will have to comply with TSIs (Technical Specifications for Interoperability). Acceptance of compliance will be carried out by independent organisations known as Notified Bodies. The TSIs take precedence over national standards, and the Notified Bodies take precedence over existing approvals processes, although there will be a significant period of transition until routes are fully interoperable, during which old and new processes will need to be used.

RIA has been extensively involved in promoting knowledge of Interoperablity in the UK, contributing to re-drafting of the UK Implementing Regulations, leading co-operation between Notified Bodies and other stakeholders, and being represented on the drafting groups for TSIs. RIA Members are kept informed of developments through a series of 'Interoperability Update' newsletters.

The UK Implementing Regulations for the High Speed Directive were laid before Parliament on 16 May 2002 and came into force on 16 August 2002. The TSIs were approved by the EU on 30 May 2002 and will become effective on 30 November 2002. Regulations to implement the Conventional Directive are now under discussion, and are expected to become law at the end of 2005.

RIA is a member of the AEIF, the EU pan-industry committee currently charged with developing the Technical Specifications for Interoperability, and of the TSI drafting groups. It is also part of the nominationsn process for similar groups within European Rail Agency, which will take over the role of drafting TSIs.

Click on the link to download the letter from Executive Director of ERA (Marcel Verslype) to UNIFE and the table for working parties.

A list of the UK Notified Bodies can be found here.