scope:

This European Standard describes methods of classification ofexisting and new railway lines and the categorization of vehicles.The standard specifies the technical requirements for ensuring thecompatibility of the interface between a vehicle and infrastructurewith respect to the vertical load carrying capacity of a line. Thestandard is suitable for use on freight, passenger and mixedtraffic lines with standard track gauge and wider than standardtrack gauge. It contains requirements relevant to: ? classificationof the vertical load carrying capacity of railway infrastructure; ?design of railway vehicles; ? determination of payload limits offreight wagons. A summary of the classification of infrastructureand the categorization of vehicles is given in Annex B. Theassessment of the vertical load carrying capacity of civilengineering structures, track, sub-grade and earthworks by the useof the load models defined in Annex A permits the classification ofinfrastructure into line categories. This European Standardidentifies on which lines vehicles are compatible to theinfrastructure for regular traffic regarding vertical load effects.Line categories are provided for: ? all traffic types; ? heavyfreight traffic; ? locomotives; ? multiple units; ? lightweightpassenger traffic. Portable trolleys as defined by EN 13977 areoutside the scope of this European Standard as well as the workingmode of maintenance vehicles (e.g. rail mounted plant, cranes).This European Standard does not cover the system used in GreatBritain, where all lines and vehicles are classified in accordancewith the RA (Route Availability) System. A guide to the equivalentcategories in accordance with this European Standard is given inAnnex Q. This European Standard does not cover requirementsrelating to the maximum total mass or maximum length of a train.The requirements of this European Standard do not replace anyregulations related to running behaviour of vehicles described bythe assessment quantities for running safety, track loading andride characteristics (see EN 14363). This Standard does not imposeany requirements to vehicles or infrastructure, but gives guidanceto a simplified management of the interface between vehicles andinfrastructure. Publication of line categories is outside the scopeof this European Standard.