Requirements on On Track Machines OTMs

Transitional rule on using independent reviewers

According to the transition rule to the Railway Technology Act (2022:366), older regulations may be applied to cases and matters initiated before the Act enters into force. This means that if you have an ongoing case before 1 June 2022 for authorisation in the One-Stop Shop or for temporary authorisation or for an independent reviewer at the Swedish Transport Agency, you may continue to use an independent reviewer instead of a Designated Body (DeBo) in the authorisation process for the vehicle in question.

Application

On-track machines traveling at speeds higher than 20 km/h must normally be authorised by the Swedish Transport Agency or ERA. The applicant must submit the application via ERA's One‑Stop Shop (OSS). If the area of use is limited solely to Sweden, the applicant can choose the Swedish Transport Agency as the authorising entity. If the area of use covers more than one Member State, ERA will be the authorising entity.

The applicant may choose to apply either national technical rules (TSFS 2022:36) assessed by designated bodies (DeBo) or TSIs assessed by notified bodies (NoBo). When the applicant chooses to apply TSI, the process and rules for locomotives and passenger vehicles are followed.

TSFS 2022:36 Transportstyrelsens föreskrifter och allmänna råd om järnvägsfordon (nationella regler)

For time-limited approvals for tests and passive transport, the applicant must contact the Swedish Transport Agency directly. Then the process according to TSFS 2022:35 is applied.

TSFS 2022:35 Transportstyrelsens föreskrifter om godkännande av järnvägsfordon för svenska delen av Europeiska unionens järnvägssystem

Shunters and historical vehicles follow the same model as on-track machines, but some standards are especially aimed at on-track machines, e.g. EN 14033-1. For two-way vehicles, the requirements of standard EN 15746 can be used. Shunters and historical vehicles are authorised according to regulation TSFS 2022:34.

TSFS 2022:34 Transportstyrelsens föreskrifter om godkännande av järnvägsfordon för nationella järnvägssystem

Valid TSIs

The applicant may choose to apply the following TSIs when authorising on-track machines:

Imported on-track machines with an authorisation from another EU+ county (EU+NO+CH) has to be authorised for traffic in Sweden. This is done by applying for an extended area of ​​use in OSS.

When authorising an on-track machine (or a series of vehicles) which is completely or partly covered by TSIs, the applicant shall engage one or more notified bodies. These bodies must check that the vehicle complies with the respective TSI. In the case of a modification of existing vehicles, the applicant decides whether or not a new authorisation is required on the basis of the criteria described in Article 16 and/or 15 of regulation (EU) 2018/545, Practical Arrangement for Vehicle Authorisation, PAVA.

Regulation (EU) 2018/545

National requirements, open points and specific cases

In addition to requirements in the relevant TSIs, on-track machines must also meet national requirements regarding open points and special cases specified in the respective TSI. Vehicles that do not comply with the Locomotive and Passenger Vehicles TSI must meet all relevant national requirements.

In regulation TSFS 2022:36 the Swedish Transport Agency has stated the national requirements on a general level. The guidelines below state the technical solutions for authorisations of on-track machines.

Guide lines for on-track machines

The following guidelines state technical solutions for authorisation of new, rebuilt and modernized on-track machines: (some are only available in Swedish):

To find dokuments from Swedish Transport Administration you need to go to there website (Swedish page) and search for the specific dokument.

Swedish Transport Administration

  • TDOK 2015:0143
  • TDOK 2014.0690
  • TDOK 2014.0776

On-track machines must meet requirements for safety and reliability in Swedish winter conditions. The applicant should therefore demonstrate that new on-track machines have sufficient safety and reliability when operating in winter conditions. This should be done with winter tests and experience operation during winter conditions. On-track machines that have not performed winter tests are normally subject to operational restrictions specified in the authorisation.

Railway vehicles intended for traffic on the Öresund Bridge must be approved for traffic in both Sweden and Denmark.

Requirements for installation of train protection and train radio systems

Railway vehicles with a driving cab shall normally have a train protection system type ETCS-STM or ATC2 installed. See requirements to the left under the link "Requirements on On Board Control Command and Signalling systems (CCS)". On-track machines and shunters can be approved without a train protection system.

All vehicles with a driving cab must have train radio, type GSM-R, installed on board. However, some on-track machines and shunters can be authorised without an installed GSM-R equipment. Such vehicles get operational restrictions specified in their authorisations.