Miscellaneous on TSIs
Delayed introduction of Swedish railway legislation
From 31 October 2020, new rules apply for final vehicle authorisation according to EU Regulation (EU) 2018/545 (PAVA). Temporary authorisations for vehicles and authorisations of infrastructure are regulated by the Railways Act (2004: 519). Associated Swedish railway legislation according to the fourth railway package is delayed and is expected to enter into force first of June 2022.
EUs Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) specifies technical rules for the subsystems of the European railway. The Swedish Transport Agency normally applies these regulations for authorisation of railway vehicles and infrastructure, see web page "Technical authorisation". There are also so called functional TSIs, which specify operational rules.
In the old days, the railways were designed according to national technical rules. The objective of the European TSIs are to standardise components and subsystems to reduce costs and to make the railway more competitive. They are intended to remove administrative and technical barriers between the member states. The TSI are mandatory for railways, but not for trams, metros and functionally separated suburban railway systems (Roslagsbanan and Saltsjöbanan).
Functional subsystems
The Railway system is divided into several subsystems. The functional subsystems defined by the interoperability directive are:
- Operation and traffic management
- Maintenance
- Telematics applications for freight traffic
- Telematics applications for passenger traffic.
The functional subsystems do not require authorisations, as opposed to the remaining subsystems, that are known as structural. For the subsystem Maintenance there is no TSI, the requirements are specified in other TSIs.
You will find the TSIs for the structural TSIs on the web page "Technical authorisation"
TSI Operation and traffic management (EU) 2012/757 (link to consolidated version amended by (EU) 2020/783)
TSI Telematic applications for passenger service (EU) 2019/775
TSI Telematic applications for freight (EU) 2019/778
The European Union Agency for Railways has published a guide for application of TSIs with two annexes. One for assessment of compatibility and one with examples of TSI applications in different phases of a project.
Assessment modules for TSIs
Assessment modules used for assessing TSI requirements are defined in a Commission decision.
Commission decision (2010/713/EU) on modules for the procedures for assessment of conformity, suitability for use and EC verification to be used in the technical specifications for interoperability link.
Application of derogation from TSI
If the subsystem cannot fulfil some TSI requirements, there is in certain cases a possibility to apply for a derogation from TSI requirements. This is normally only applicable for projects in an advance stage when the TSI went into force. The TSIs specifies transition rules and time limits. In cases where derogations fall under the transition rules, there is no need to apply for a derogation.
The directive specifies that the Commission may decide on a derogation for any proposed renewal, extension or upgrading of an existing subsystem, when the application of these TSIs would compromise the economic viability of the project. However, the Commission has only accepted very few derogations of this type. There are some other reasons for derogations, but they are not applicable in Sweden.
The Railway system is divided into several subsystems. The functional subsystems defined by the interoperability directive are:
- Operation and traffic management
- Maintenance
- Telematics applications for freight traffic
- Telematics applications for passenger traffic.
The functional subsystems do not require authorisations, as opposed to the remaining subsystems, that are known as structural. For the subsystem Maintenance there is no TSI, the requirements are specified in other TSIs.
You will find the TSIs for the structural TSIs on the web page "Technical authorisation"