BS EN 15746-1:2020 Railway Applications: Track, Road-Rail Machines, and Associated Equipment

Welcome to the comprehensive guide on the BS EN 15746-1:2020 standard, a pivotal document for professionals in the railway industry. This standard is essential for ensuring the safety, efficiency, and reliability of road-rail machines and associated equipment used in railway applications. Released on January 5, 2021, this document is a must-have for anyone involved in the design, operation, or maintenance of railway machinery.

Overview of BS EN 15746-1:2020

The BS EN 15746-1:2020 standard provides detailed technical requirements for road-rail machines and associated equipment. It covers both travelling and working conditions, ensuring that these machines operate safely and effectively on railway tracks. This standard is crucial for manufacturers, engineers, and operators who are responsible for the integration and functionality of road-rail machinery within the railway infrastructure.

Key Features

• Standard Number: BS EN 15746-1:2020
• Pages: 90
• Release Date: January 5, 2021
• ISBN: 978 0 539 00962 0
• Status: Standard

Why This Standard is Important

In the dynamic world of railway applications, safety and precision are paramount. The BS EN 15746-1:2020 standard ensures that road-rail machines are designed and operated in a manner that minimizes risks and maximizes performance. By adhering to this standard, companies can ensure compliance with industry regulations, enhance operational efficiency, and reduce the likelihood of accidents or malfunctions.

Comprehensive Coverage

This 90-page document provides exhaustive guidelines and specifications that cover a wide range of aspects related to road-rail machines. From design and construction to operational protocols and maintenance requirements, the standard offers a holistic approach to managing these complex machines. It is an invaluable resource for ensuring that all aspects of machine operation are considered and optimized.

Technical Requirements

The standard outlines specific technical requirements that must be met for road-rail machines to be deemed compliant. These include:

• Design specifications that ensure structural integrity and safety.
• Operational guidelines that promote efficient and safe machine use.
• Maintenance protocols that ensure long-term reliability and performance.
• Safety measures that protect both operators and the surrounding environment.

Who Should Use This Standard?

The BS EN 15746-1:2020 standard is designed for a wide range of professionals within the railway industry, including:

• Manufacturers: To ensure that their products meet industry standards and are safe for use.
• Engineers: To design and implement systems that comply with the latest safety and operational guidelines.
• Operators: To understand the requirements for safe and efficient machine operation.
• Maintenance Personnel: To follow prescribed maintenance protocols that ensure machine longevity and reliability.

Benefits of Compliance

Adhering to the BS EN 15746-1:2020 standard offers numerous benefits, including:

• Enhanced Safety: By following the guidelines, companies can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and injuries.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensures that operations meet national and international safety standards.
• Operational Efficiency: Optimized machine performance leads to increased productivity and reduced downtime.
• Reputation Management: Demonstrating a commitment to safety and quality can enhance a company's reputation within the industry.

Conclusion

The BS EN 15746-1:2020 standard is an essential document for anyone involved in the railway industry. Its comprehensive guidelines ensure that road-rail machines are designed, operated, and maintained to the highest standards of safety and efficiency. By integrating this standard into your operations, you can ensure compliance, enhance safety, and improve overall performance.

For those committed to excellence in railway applications, the BS EN 15746-1:2020 standard is an indispensable resource that provides the knowledge and guidelines necessary to achieve the highest levels of safety and operational success.

BS EN 15746-1:2020

This standard BS EN 15746-1:2020 Railway applications. Track. Road-rail machines and associated equipment is classified in these ICS categories:

• 93.100 Construction of railways

1.1 General

This document deals with the technical requirements to minimize the specific railway hazards of self-propelled road-rail machines – henceforward referred to as machines – and associated equipment, which can arise during the commissioning, operation and maintenance of the machines when carried out in accordance with the specification given by the manufacturer or his authorized representative.

These risks are normally common regardless of the track gauge. However, additional requirements can apply for travelling and working on infrastructures with narrow gauge or broad gauge lines, railways utilizing other than adhesion between the rail and rail wheels and underground infrastructures.

This document is also applicable for machines and associated equipment that in working configuration are partly supported on the ballast or the formation. Such machines are capable of independent self-propelled movement on the ground.

This document does not apply to the following:

• the requirements for quality of the work or performance of the machine;

• the specific requirements established by the machine operator for the use of machines, which will be the subject of negotiation between the manufacturer and the Infrastructure Manager;

• moving and working while not on rails;

• separate machines temporarily mounted on machines and associated equipment;

• demountable machines as defined in 3.2;

• trailers as defined in 3.3, including road-rail trailers.

Vehicles which are not track-guided themselves but have attachments that are track-guided are not road-rail machines.

The requirements within this document are amended and added to by the requirements in EN 15746‑4 for machines designed and intended to use urban rail.

This document does not establish the additional requirements for the following:

• operation subject to special rules, e.g. potentially explosive atmospheres;

• hazards due to natural causes, e.g. earthquake, lightning, flooding;

• working methods;

• operation in severe working conditions requiring special measures, e.g. work in tunnels or in cuttings, extreme environmental conditions such as: freezing temperatures, high temperatures, corrosive environments, tropical environments, contaminating environments, strong magnetic fields;

• hazards due to errors in software;

• hazards occurring when used to handle suspended loads which may swing freely.

For a road-rail machine it is assumed that an EU road permissible host vehicle will offer an accepted safety level for its designed basic functions before conversion. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in a particular clause this specific aspect is not dealt with in this European Standard.

Other track construction and maintenance machines used on railway tracks are dealt with in other European Standards, see Annex F.

1.2 Validity of this document

This document applies to all machines which are ordered one year after the publication date by CEN of this document.

1.1 General

This document deals with the technical requirements to minimize the specific railway hazards of self-propelled road-rail machines – henceforward referred to as machines – and associated equipment, which can arise during the commissioning, operation and maintenance of the machines when carried out in accordance with the specification given by the manufacturer or his authorized representative.

These risks are normally common regardless of the track gauge. However, additional requirements can apply for travelling and working on infrastructures with narrow gauge or broad gauge lines, railways utilizing other than adhesion between the rail and rail wheels and underground infrastructures.

This document is also applicable for machines and associated equipment that in working configuration are partly supported on the ballast or the formation. Such machines are capable of independent self-propelled movement on the ground.

This document does not apply to the following:

• the requirements for quality of the work or performance of the machine;

• the specific requirements established by the machine operator for the use of machines, which will be the subject of negotiation between the manufacturer and the Infrastructure Manager;

• moving and working while not on rails;

• separate machines temporarily mounted on machines and associated equipment;

• demountable machines as defined in 3.2;

• trailers as defined in 3.3, including road-rail trailers.

Vehicles which are not track-guided themselves but have attachments that are track-guided are not road-rail machines.

The requirements within this document are amended and added to by the requirements in EN 15746‑4 for machines designed and intended to use urban rail.

This document does not establish the additional requirements for the following:

• operation subject to special rules, e.g. potentially explosive atmospheres;

• hazards due to natural causes, e.g. earthquake, lightning, flooding;

• working methods;

• operation in severe working conditions requiring special measures, e.g. work in tunnels or in cuttings, extreme environmental conditions such as: freezing temperatures, high temperatures, corrosive environments, tropical environments, contaminating environments, strong magnetic fields;

• hazards due to errors in software;

• hazards occurring when used to handle suspended loads which may swing freely.

For a road-rail machine it is assumed that an EU road permissible host vehicle will offer an accepted safety level for its designed basic functions before conversion. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in a particular clause this specific aspect is not dealt with in this European Standard.

Other track construction and maintenance machines used on railway tracks are dealt with in other European Standards, see Annex F.

1.2 Validity of this document

This document applies to all machines which are ordered one year after the publication date by CEN of this document.