Chairman: Tim Gilbert
RSSB committee member: Paul Gray
Secretary: Matt Pierzchala on 020 3142 5598
Introduction
The Vehicle/Structures SIC (V/S SIC) was established to provide the focus for the interface between vehicles and the fixed infrastructure in the areas of physical clearance (gauging) and vehicle loading (route availability).
Scope
The scope of the V/S SIC is defined in its remit and aims to:
- Establish the Committee as a recognised industry stakeholder/client group for the review and development of vehicle to structure interaction strategies, statutory requirements, standards and business processes at European and national level and the promotion of their implementation
- Support and inform the development, management, maintenance and publication of infrastructure gauging and loading capability information, associated vehicle characteristics and the requirements for ensuring compatibility
- Support the development of a credible and sustainable future gauge and loading capability across the national rail network, which optimises the needs of customers and funders
- Support and develop classification methods (gauging, loading etc.) that simplify access to the national rail network
- Support and develop appropriate techniques for optimising the vehicle / structure interface
- Support and inform the industry’s Rail Technical Strategy
- Act as principal client for the RSSB infrastructure research topic group on vehicle / structure interface issues
Membership
The V/S SIC has members representing the following industry stakeholders:
- Passenger train operators
- ROSCOs
- Non-passenger operators
- Infrastructure managers
- Infrastructure contractors
- Suppliers
- ORR
- DfT
- RSSB
SIC programme
The SIC has developed a programme of work covering the period 2011–2013.
The SIC is currently focussing on the following initiatives:
- Revision of lower sector gauge
- Standardisation and retention of vehicle gauging data
- Development of new standard vehicle gauges for locomotives and for suburban vehicles
Every year the SIC provides an annual report on its activities to the Technical Strategy Leadership Group
Research and development
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On behalf of the V/S SIC, a guide has been produced of all research managed by the RSSB research programme. The guide gives a general overview of research in this area that has been completed and also that which is currently in progress. Printed copies of the booklet can be requested by emailing research@rssb.co.uk. |
SIC sub-groups
The V/S committee has the following sub-group:
- V/S SIC sub-group. The scope of the subgroup is defined in its remit.
SIC publications
The V/S SIC has produced a number of bulletins below that provide an update on the work of the SIC:
Publications of interest
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The following publication may also be of interest:
The V/S SIC has produced a Guide to British gauging practice.
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This guide is intended to help with some of the intricacies of fitting trains (passenger and freight) on to Britain’s railways. Experience has shown there to be many traps for the unwary – assumptions made at an early part of a train building process leading to expensive and costly upstream problems which have been embarrassing to the industry
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It is also provided as background to those undertaking infrastructure works who may not be familiar with the gauging process. By understanding the context of, for example, measuring bridges and tunnels, better measurements may be taken and expensive mistakes avoided. Measuring the height and width of an arched bridge is of little use when trying to clear a rectangular container. | |