scope:

This European Standard defines the process for assessment of therunning characteristics of railway vehicles for the Europeannetwork of standard gauge tracks (nominally 1 435 mm). In additionto the assessment of the running characteristics of vehicles foracceptance processes, this standard also defines quantities anddependencies that are not directly used for acceptance purposes.This information is for example intended for the validation ofsimulation models. It can also be used to define operatingconditions outside the reference conditions to be used for theapproval. The assessment of running characteristics applies tovehicles which: ? are newly developed; ? have had relevant designmodifications; or ? have changes in their operating conditions. Theassessment process is based on specified target test conditions(see 3.1) given in this document. Experience over many years hasdemonstrated that vehicles complying with this standard can beoperated safely on infrastructure with conditions more severe thanthe target test conditions, if the current general operating rulesare applied. As an example it is generally current practice torestrict cant deficiency in curves below a certain radius. It maybe necessary to adapt these operating rules, if a deterioration ofthe infrastructure conditions is observed. These operating rulesare defined on a national basis. The procedure to evaluate theseoperating rules is out of the scope of this standard. NOTE 1 Thereare margins included in the specified limit values and thestatistical evaluation. They cannot be quantified, but they explainwhy vehicles can also be operated at full speed and cant deficiencyin many cases outside of the target test conditions. This standardalso enables the demonstration of compliance against the targettest conditions for the case that their combination is notachievable during tests. It is also possible to carry out theassessment of a vehicle for limited test conditions such as testzones 1 and 2 or reduced speed or reduced cant deficiency. In thiscase the approval of the vehicle shall be restricted accordingly.NOTE 2 National regulations sometimes allow the increase ordecrease of the values for speed, curve radius and cant deficiencyfor local operation based on safety considerations taking intoaccount the local characteristics of the infrastructure (tracklayout, track structure, track geometrical quality and contactconditions). These local characteristics can be different fromthose included in the assessment for the vehicle acceptance. NOTE 3The methods of this standard can also be applied to gatherinformation about the compatibility between the vehicle andinfrastructure with conditions more severe than the target testconditions. The results of such investigations can be used todetermine safe operating rules for such infrastructure conditions.Where testing the vehicle demonstrates that the performance of avehicle complies with the requirements of this standard whenoperating at maximum speed and maximum cant deficiency underinfrastructure conditions that are more severe than the target testconditions, the obtained results are accepted and there is no needto carry out additional tests to fulfil the requirements defined inthis standard.