Esta es la versión HTML de un fichero adjunto a una solicitud de acceso a la información 'Safety and Interoperability Pillar of the Fourth Railway Package'.

link to page 6

Library Briefing 
 
Library of the European Parliament 
 
Briefing No 083/2009
 
Railway safety and interoperability 
The EU has been working to maintain and 
In this briefing: 
improve railway safety standards through 
•  Issue definition 
development and implementation of 
safety regulations and technical standards. 

•  Current EU policies 
In the wake of the Viareggio tragedy which 
•  Railway safety performance in the EU 
took place on June 29 2009, the European 
•  European Parliament  debate 
Commission has declared that it was 
appropriate to review existing rail safety 

•  Commission's response 
rules and practices, as well as the quality of 
•  Stakeholders' positions 
their implementation and to consider 

opportunities for improvement. 
  Main references 
In a progress report on the railway safety 
Issue definition 
performance in the EU published in 
September 2009, the Commission states 

Under the Lisbon Treaty1, transport policy is 
that the segmentation resulting from 
subject to the ordinary legislative 
national requirements is still a barrier to a 
procedure, in which the Council and the 
Europe -wide rail area. 
Parliament act together on Commission 
proposals.  
Following the recent tragedies, MEPs have 
asked the Commission to table plans to 

Railway safety 
improve railway safety. 
The purpose of the common transport 
policy is to ensure safety on the EU's 
The Commission envisages two main 
railways by developing common safety 
actions: distance-based controls for 
targets and common safety methods. This 
wagons and a strengthening of the 
means greater harmonisation of national 
European Railway Agency. 
rules. 
Stakeholders are supportive of the 
Railway interoperability 
European Commission's policy. 
One of the aims of the European Union is 
the establishment and development of 
Trans-European Networks (TEN-T) in the 
area of transport. Interoperability is the 
ability of a rail system to facilitate safe and 
uninterrupted movement of trains across 
independent networks. This ability depends 
on meeting essential requirements 
concerning regulatory, technical and 
 
operational conditions.  
Source: © Aussierupe 
 
Author: Jacques LeCarte 
 27/01/2010 
Contact:  43445 - xxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxxxxx.xx 
Page 1 of 6 
 

link to page 6 link to page 6 link to page 6
Library Briefing 
Railway safety and interoperability
 
 
Progress towards interoperability is slow. 
Safety Authorities to consider safety 
Because of the long lifetime of rail 
improvements, where appropriate. 
infrastructure and rolling stock and the need 
Safety Management Systems 
to keep investment costs for the sector at an 
Railway undertakings and infrastructure 
acceptable level, radical changes towards 
managers are obliged to implement risk 
harmonised solutions are not possible. 
control measures, where appropriate in 
Current EU policies 
cooperation with each other, and to 
establish safety management systems (SMS): 
Railway Safety Directive (RSD) 
these systems must provide for all the 
The Railway Safety Directive 2004/49/EC 
procedures and processes required to 
(RSD)2 is the main piece of Community 
ensure the safe operation and maintenance 
legislation ensuring that railway safety is 
of the railway.   
maintained and improved. 
Safety at the level of vehicles 
The aim of the RSD is to ensure that safety 
The SMS of railway undertakings must also 
concerns are not used as a barrier to a fully 
include processes for the control of 
open market. The Directive recognises that 
contractors and the supply of maintenance 
safety levels in the EU are generally high, in 
and material. This is important for railway 
particular compared to road transport.  
undertakings, particularly those which 
operate freight wagons (including those 
The RSD introduces the concept that the 
which transport dangerous goods), when 
operator of the railway system (i.e. the 
they do not themselves carry out 
owner and/or operator of the track) are fully 
maintenance.  
responsible for the safety of the system. 
However, individual undertakings operating, 
Entity in charge of maintenance 
(for example, owners of wagons) are also 
The Railway Safety Directive was amended 
fully responsible for their own individual 
in 2008 (Directive 2008/110/EC)3, and the 
parts.   
responsibility for maintenance is now 
assigned to a new player, the entity in 
The Rail Safety Directive sets out 
charge of maintenance (ECM), which needs 
requirements for the establishment of 
to be certified. Since the railway undertaking 
independent National Safety Authorities 
is responsible for safe operation, it has to get 
aiming at awarding safety certificates to 
an assurance that vehicles are maintained 
railway undertakings and safety 
and safe to operate. The certification of ECM 
authorisations to infrastructure managers, 
is designed to provide this assurance.   
and ensuring supervision of railway 
undertakings and infrastructure managers' 
Railway Interoperability Directive (RID) 
safety management systems. 
This Directive4 (Directive 2008/57/EC 
19.7.2008) is a recast of Directive 2001/16/EC 
The Directive also requires Member States to 
applicable to the conventional rail system 
investigate certain serious accidents and 
and Directive 96/48/EC on the trans-
incidents. 'National Investigation Bodies' are 
European high-speed rail system. These acts 
mandated to carry out independent 
will enter  into force on 19 July 2010  
investigation and to consider the lessons to 
be learned from accidents. They must also 
The RID governs the conditions promoting 
make recommendations for the National 
the interoperability of the trans-European 
rail system, at the construction stage; launch 
 
Author: Jacques LeCarte 
 27/01/2010 
Contact:  43445 - xxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxxxxx.xx 
Page 2 of 6 
 

link to page 6
Library Briefing 
Railway safety and interoperability
 
 
of service; renewal, operation and 
System project, which has been set up to 
maintenance stages. Its provisions comply 
create uniform signalling standards 
with Directive 2004/45/EC on railway safety 
throughout Europe. 
and the health and safety of workers. 
Railway safety performance in the EU 
The goal of gradual achievement of rail 
system interoperability is pursued through 
In the EU, inland freight transport amounts 
the harmonisation of technical standards.  
to 2500 billion tons/kilometre per year. On 
This Directive covers: 
average, distances covered by rail transport 
operations are longer than in road transport. 
•  Essential requirements with regard 
In 2007, transport of dangerous goods 
to safety, reliability, human health, 
accounted for 5.8% of all inland freight 
environmental protection, technical 
transport. Due to the organisation of railway 
compatibility and operation of the 
transport, more than 60% of freight trains 
system ;  
include at least one wagon carrying 
•  The technical specifications for 
dangerous goods.  
interoperability (TSIs) adopted for 
Figure 1 - EU Inland freight transport  
each subsystem or part of subsystem 
pursuant to this Directive;  
Waterways 
6%

Rail 18%
  The corresponding European 
specifications.  
The railway network is broken down into 
structural subsystems (energy, control-
command and signalling, rolling stock) or 
functional subsystems (operation and traffic 
management, maintenance and telematics 
Road 76%
applications). Member States may request 
 
that the Commission grant derogations and 
Source: European Commission 2009 
the Commission may decide to exclude 
certain measures from the scope of the 
Figure 2 - Rail track in select EU countries 
Directive.  
(millions km) 
The European Railway Agency (ERA) 
1200
The European Railway Agency was set up 
1000
2006
under EC Regulation No 881/20045 to help 
2007
create an integrated railway area by 
800
reinforcing safety and interoperability. Its 
600
main task is to develop economically viable 
400
common technical standards and 
approaches to safety, working closely with 
200
railway sector stakeholders, national 
0
n
m
ia
n
authorities and other concerned parties, as 
m
blic
ly
any
ai
and
do
an
de
Sp
ance
Ita
Fr
Begliu epu
erm
Pol
ing
Swe
well as with the European institutions.  
G
Rom
ch R
ted K
Cze
ni
U
The Agency also acts as the system authority 
 
for the European Rail Traffic Management 
Source: European Railway Agency 2009 
 
Author: Jacques LeCarte 
 27/01/2010 
Contact:  43445 - xxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxxxxx.xx 
Page 3 of 6 
 

link to page 6 link to page 6 link to page 6 link to page 6
Library Briefing 
Railway safety and interoperability
 
 
According to the European Rail Agency’s 
rolling stock in motion. There is a 15% 
historical database, from 1990 to 2005, 38 
decrease in the total number of accidents 
railway accidents involving dangerous 
between 2006 and 2007. This is mainly due 
goods caused 27 fatalities and 75 injuries. 
to a decrease in reported number of 
These 27 fatalities were caused by: level 
collisions and fewer accidents to persons 
crossing accidents (62%), collisions with 
caused by rolling stock in motion.  
trucks carrying dangerous goods (19%) and 
The railways are generally safe but, with the 
derailments (19%).  
implementation of the RSD, Member States 
The Viareggio accident in Tuscany on 29 
will need to consolidate the requirements 
June 2009 represented one of the most 
into their existing legal frameworks, a 
serious rail accidents in two decades. 
process that will take some time. 
Following a derailment a 14-wagon freight 
The Progress report on the 
train overturned. One of the wagons was 
implementation of the Community rail 
carrying dangerous goods; specifically 
safety and interoperability directives  
liquefied petroleum gas. It exploded, 
causing 22 fatalities and a further 27 serious 
On 8 September 2009 the European 
injuries.
Commission published a report on the 
implementation of the Community rail 
Because the individual freight cars were 
safety and interoperability directives 
owned and registered in different Member 
The report indicates that the railway system 
States, the incident raised the issue of safety 
in the EU is very safe and the organisational 
and interoperability.   
changes introduced under Community law 
Figure 3 - Reported number of accidents 
not only had no negative impact on safety, 
per accident type (2006 - 2007) 
but are expected to raise safety levels in the 
short and medium terms.  
2500
2006
For this reason, the Commission intends to 
2000
2007
concentrate efforts on implementing 
technical specifications that will deliver 
1500
significant benefits in the short and medium 
term, such as telematics applications in 
1000
signalling, freight and passenger transport.  
500
 
0
European Parliament  debate 
ns
s
s
ing
on
ers
lisio
Fires
th
lment
oss
rs
Pe
O
In November 20099, the Committee for 
Col
rai
Cr
De
 
Transport tabled an oral question with 
Source: European Railway Agency 2009 
plenary debate. After the Viareggio tragedy, 
The European Railway Agency's report 
MEPs asked the Commission to explain how 
The most recent ERA report7 indicates that 
it plans to ensure that EU rail freight safety 
the number of significant collisions, 
standards are fully upheld. 
derailments and fires is low compared to 
The debate took place on 24 November 
accidents that occur at level crossings or 
2009 and was not closed by the adoption of 
relate to accidents to persons caused by 
a resolution. 
 
Author: Jacques LeCarte 
 27/01/2010 
Contact:  43445 - xxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxxxxx.xx 
Page 4 of 6 
 

link to page 6 link to page 6
Library Briefing 
Railway safety and interoperability
 
 
Commission's response 
significant benefits in the short and medium 
term, such as telematics applications in 
During the EP's plenary debate, the 
signalling, freight and passenger transport 
European Commission announced that it 
 
will review rail safety rules and practices as 
well as the quality of their implementation 
Stakeholders' positions 
and will consider all opportunities for 
The Community of European Railway and 
improvement, where necessary.  
Infrastructure Companies (CER)11 support 
Commission implementing legislation on 
the European Commission’s and the 
interoperability (the so-called Technical 
European Railway Agency’s approach to 
Specifications for Interoperability, or TSIs) is 
improve railway safety through harmonised 
expected to be completed in 2010 as far as 
measures at European level. For the CER, 
the Trans-European Transport Network 
only this will bring a relevant contribution to 
(TEN-T) is concerned. The increasing amount 
safety without causing damages to the 
of interoperable infrastructure and rolling 
railway business. 
stock and the limited number of 
derogations requested by Member States 
The CER believes it is absolutely necessary to 
indicate that overall the existing TSIs are 
follow a European approach towards safety 
being successfully implemented.  
and to discourage individual Member State 
initiatives which aim to introduce more 
The Commission intends to concentrate 
severe rules on the maintenance of axles 
efforts on implementing those technical 
and safety checks. This would be ineffective 
specifications that will deliver significant 
on the safety side and threaten the survival 
benefits in the short and medium term, such 
of the rail freight business due to additional 
as telematics applications in signalling, 
costs.  
freight and passenger transport.  
To further improve safety of what is already 
Vice-President Antonio Tajani10 has insisted 
by far the safest mode of land transport, the 
on two important elements to further 
European Commission and the European 
improve the safety level; firstly, a move 
Railway Agency should continue to promote 
towards a system that includes distance-
the overall maintenance quality of rail 
based controls for train wagons. Secondly, 
freight axles and wheel sets in Europe.  
the need to strengthen the powers of the 
European Railway Agency by allowing it to 
CER also supports the set-up of a task force 
take part in national investigations of 
on wheel set and axle maintenance for 
accidents".  
freight wagons, guided by the European 
At present, railway infrastructure is shared 
Railway Agency. The task force should focus 
for both freight and passenger services, for 
on European harmonisation of acceptable 
both practical and economic reasons. Mixed 
minimum criteria for wheel sets and axles.  
traffic, says the Commission, needs to be 
CER furthermore proposes to strengthen the 
managed in the safest possible way, and 
role of the European Railway Agency as the 
infrastructure and rolling stock must be 
auditing and supervising body of the 
properly maintained.  
national safety authorities. Strong and 
For this reason, the Commission intends to 
precise certification processes including the 
concentrate efforts on implementing 
entities in charge of maintenance and 
technical specifications that will deliver 
workshops must be set up. 
 
Author: Jacques LeCarte 
 27/01/2010 
Contact:  43445 - xxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxxxxx.xx 
Page 5 of 6 
 

link to page 6 link to page 6
Library Briefing 
Railway safety and interoperability
 
 
UNIFE12 - the Association of the European 
CLECAT13 notes that "non-discriminatory 
Rail Industry and the European freight 
access to infrastructure" is indeed a key 
forwarders' association CLECAT support 
means of promoting efficient use of the 
both the Railway Directive on Safety and on 
European rail network infrastructure and a 
Interoperability. However, they believe that 
precondition of full and fair competition.  
powerful state-run companies tend to 
overcharge operators for using  Main references 
infrastructure. The fact that EU 'priority 
European Commission (2009) Commission Report on 
corridor' projects are often built according 
Railway Safety and Interoperability IP/09/1282, Brussels, 
to short-term national political interests 
September 2009 
seriously hampers the development of a 
Communication from the Commission to the Council and 
competitive European rail freight industry. 
the European Parliament on a progress report on the 
implementation of the railway safety directive and of the 

 
Railway interoperability directives  (COM (2009) 464(final), 
8 September2009
 
Disclaimer 
This Briefing is a short overview of the subject, and is not intended to take the place of more complex original research. 
The document does not in any way reflect the opinion or position of the author or of the European Parliament.
 
 
Endnotes 
                                                           
1  Chapter IV of the Lisbon Treaty 
Directive 2004(49)EC on safety on the Community's Railways 
UK Office of Rail Regulation Explanatory note on the Railway Safety Directive 
4 Railway Interoperability Directive 
5 Regulation establishing the European Railway Agency (2004) 
6 ERADIS  (2009) Accident description for Viarreggio 
Railway Safety Performance, September 2009 
8 Commission's report on safety and interoperability, September 2009 
EP oral question with debate 
10 Antonio Tajani Vice-President della Commissione europea responsabile per i Trasporti Conferenza "Railway Safety – The way 
forward". Discorso d'apertura Conferenza "Railway Safety – The way forward" Bruxelles, 8 settembre 2009 [SPEECH/09/367].
  
11 Railways safety needs a European approach,,CER, 8 September 2009. 
12 UNIFE's press release 23 April 2009
13 CLECAT's position on a European rail network for a competitive freight 
 
 
Author: Jacques LeCarte 
 27/01/2010 
Contact:  43445 - xxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxxxxx.xx 
Page 6 of 6 
 

Document Outline