Technical Specifications for Interoperability
Following the UK’s exit from the EU and the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, EU Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs) have ceased to apply in the UK. The technical content of TSIs at the end of the transition period are replicated as National Technical Specification Notices (NTSNs), which apply from 1 January 2021. These are published by the Secretary of State on the Department for Transport (DfT) website. Track-changed versions of the NTSNs are published on this website for guidance purposes only. They show how the NTSNs differ from the corresponding TSIs (see National Technical Specification Notices).
TSIs define the technical and operational standards which must be met to satisfy the ‘essential requirements’ and to ensure the interoperability of the railway system in the European Union. The essential requirements are safety, reliability and availability, health, environmental protection, technical compatibility and accessibility. ‘Interoperability’ is ‘the ability of the rail system to allow the safe and uninterrupted movement of trains which accomplish the required levels of performance’.
You can find TSIs on the EUR-Lex website.
Who must comply with TSIs?
TSIs are mandated on all mainline railways across the European Union. From 1 January 2021, they no longer apply in GB. The technical content of TSIs were replicated in NTSNs at the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020. See National Technical Specification Notices.
How do TSIs relate to national technical rules?
National technical rules (NTRs) are used to:
- Fill identified 'open points' in TSIs (‘open points’ are identified in an annex to a TSI if certain technical aspects corresponding to the essential requirements cannot be explicitly covered in the TSI)
- Support ‘UK specific cases’ in TSIs (‘UK specific case’ is a special provision relating to the technical specifications for a subsystem or an interoperability constituent, which enables it to be compatible with the rail system as set out in a TSI)
- Support a derogation from a TSI
- Set out requirements to maintain technical compatibility between existing assets or processes that do not conform to the requirements of TSIs and new, upgraded or renewed assets conforming to TSIs.
The TSIs
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Structural TSIs
Control Command and Signalling (CCS) TSI: Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/919
This TSI concerns the control command and signalling on-board and trackside subsystems. It applies to control-command and signalling on-board subsystems of vehicles which are (or are intended to be) operated on and control-command and signalling trackside subsystems of the rail network of the European Union.
Note: From 1 January 2019, the set of specifications for the ETCS baseline 2 is no longer applicable for new vehicles to be placed on the market for the first time. See also:
- Consolidated text of Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/919 includes amendments made by the Commission Regulation 2019/776
- Application Guide CCS TSI Track-side and On-board
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/6 on the ERTMS deployment plan
- List of Class B Systems
- GEGN8611 Guidance on the Application of the CCS TSI
RSSB contact: Alex Savopoulos, Principal Control, Command & Communications Engineer
Energy (ENE) TSI: Commission Regulation (EU) 1301/2014
This TSI concerns the energy subsystem and covers all fixed installations necessary to achieve interoperability that are required to supply traction energy to a train. See also:
• Consolidated text of Commission Regulation (EU) 1301/2014 includes amendments made by the Commission Regulation 2019/776
• GLGN1600 Guidance on the ENE TSI
• Corrigendum to Commission Regulation (EU) 1301/2014 • The UK National Implementation Plan for the ENE TSI (Commission Regulation 1301/2014) • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/868 amending Regulation (EU) No 1301/2014 and Regulation (EU) 1302/2014 on energy measuring system and data collecting system • ERTMS References available from ERA website RSSB contact: Mike Tatton, Professional Head of EnergyInfrastructure (INF) TSI: Commission Regulation (EU) 1299/2014
This TSI covers:
- The infrastructure structural subsystem (line layout, track parameters, switches and crossings, platforms, track resistance to applied loads, structures resistance to traffic loads, immediate action limits on track geometry defects etc.);
- The part of the maintenance functional subsystem relating to the infrastructure subsystem (i.e. washing plants for external cleaning of trains, water restocking, refueling, fixed installations for toilet discharge and electrical shore supplies).
See also:
- Consolidated text of Commission Regulation (EU) No 1299/2014 including amendments made by the Commission Regulation 2019/776
- Application guide INF TSI
- UK National Implementation Plan for the INF TSI (Commission Regulation (EU) 1299-2014)
- GIGN7608 Guidance on the INF TSI
RSSB contact: Anup Chalisey, Professional Head of Infrastructure
Locomotive & Passenger (LOC&PAS) TSI: Commission Regulation (EU) 1302/2014
This TSI concerns the rolling stock subsystem and applies to the following types of rolling stock:
- Self-propelling thermal or electric trains;
- Thermal or electric traction units;
- Passenger carriages;
- Mobile railway infrastructure construction and maintenance equipment.
See also:
- Consolidated text of Commission Regulation (EU) 1302/2014 including amendments made by the Commission Regulation 2019/776 and Commission Regulation 2020/387
- Application Guide LOC&PAS TSI
- GMGN2615 Guidance on the LOC&PAS TSI
The LOC&PAS TSI has been amended to close the open point regarding provisions on the energy measuring system and the data collecting system. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/868 amends Regulation (EU) No 1301/2014 and Regulation (EU) No 1302/2014 as regards provisions on energy measuring system and data collecting system.
RSSB contact: Mark Oakley, Professional Head of Rolling Stock
Noise (NOI) TSI: Commission Regulation (EU) 1304/2014
In line with the proportionality principle, this TSI sets out the optimal level of harmonisation related to specifications on the rolling stock subsystem (for both locomotives and passenger rolling stock and, freight wagons) intended to limit the noise emission of the railway system of the European Union. See also:
- Consolidated text of Commission Regulation (EU) No 1304/2014 amending Decision 2008/232/EC and repealing Decision 2011/229/EU
RSSB contact: Neil Halliday, Professional Head of Plant
Rolling Stock (Freight Wagons) (WAG TSI): Commission Regulation (EU) 321/2013
This TSI concerns the rolling stock subsystem and applies to freight wagons including vehicles designed to carry lorries. See also:
- Consolidated text of Commission Regulation (EU) 321/2013 includes amendments made by the Commission Regulation 2019/776
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 1236/2013 amending Regulation (EU) No 321/2013
- List of fully UIC approved composite brake blocks for international transport
- Application Guide WAG TSI
RSSB contact: Neil Halliday, Professional Head of Plant
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Functional TSIs
Operation and Traffic Management (OPE) TSI: Commission Decision 2012/757/EU (as amended by Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/995)
This TSI applies to the operation and traffic management subsystem of infrastructure managers and railway undertakings related to the operation of trains on the rail system of the European Union. It covers those elements of the rail operation and traffic management, where principally there are operational interfaces between railway undertakings and infrastructure managers and where there is a particular benefit to interoperability. This entails matters such as traffic planning and management, train composition, train braking, train visibility, data recording, degraded operation. See also:
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/773
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/995
- Consolidated version of Commission Decision 2012/757/EU
- Appendix_A to the OPE TSI
- Application Guide OPE TSI
- GOGN3615 Guidance on the OPE TSI
- GB Railway Implementation Plan for the OPE TSI (Commission Regulation (EU) No 2015/995)
RSSB contact: Gary Portsmouth, Professional Head of Rail Operations
Telematic Application for Freight (TAF) TSI: Commission Regulation (EU) 1305/2014
This TSI concerns the telematics applications subsystem and applies to applications for freight services, including information systems (real-time monitoring of freight and trains), marshalling and allocation systems, reservation, payment and invoicing systems, management of connections with other modes of transport and production of electronic accompanying documents. See also:
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/778 minor amendment to Regulation (EU) No 1305/2014 as regards change control management
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/278 of 23 February 2018 amending the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 1305/2014
- Consolidated version of Commission Regulation (EU) 1305/2014
- TAF TAP information from Network Rail
- Regulation (EU) 2020/1056 on electronic freight transport information.
RSSB contact: Vaibhav Puri, Deputy Director of Standards and Head of Policy.
Telematic Application for Passenger Services (TAP) TSI: Commission Regulation (EU) 454/2011
This TSI concerns the telematics applications subsystem and applies to applications for passenger services, including systems providing passengers with information before and during the journey, reservation and payment systems, luggage management and management of connections between trains and with other modes of transport. See also:
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/775 making minor amendment to Regulation (EU) No 454/2011 as regards change control management
- Commission Regulation (EU) 1273/2013 amending Regulation (EU) No 454/2011
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/527 amending Regulation (EU) No 454/2011
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 665/2012 amending Regulation (EU) No 454 2011
- Consolidated version of Commission Regulation (EU) 454/2011
- TAF TAP information from Network Rail
RSSB contact: Vaibhav Puri, Deputy Director of Standards and Head of Policy.
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Transverse TSIs
Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM TSI): Commission Regulation (EU) 1300/2014
This TSI applies to the infrastructure, operation and traffic management, telematics applications and rolling stock subsystems. It covers all aspects of these subsystems which are relevant to accessibility for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility. See also:
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/772 minor amendment to Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014 as regards the inventory of assets
- Application Guide PRM TSI and Appendices
- UK National Implementation Plan for the PRM TSI (Commission Regulation (EU) No 1300-2014)
RSSB contact: Anup Chalisey, Professional Head of Infrastructure
Safety in Railway Tunnels (SRT TSI): Commission Regulation (EU) 1303/2014
This TSI concerns the control command and signalling, infrastructure, energy, operation and traffic management, and rolling stock (locomotives and passenger units) subsystems. It applies to new, renewed and upgraded tunnels which are located on the rail network of the European Union. See also:
- Consolidated text of Commission Regulation 1303/2014 including amendments made by the Commission Regulation 2019/77
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/912 correcting Regulation (EU) No 1303/2014
- GIGN7619 Guidance on SRT TSI
RSSB contact: Anup Chalisey, Professional Head of Infrastructure
TSI Conformity Assessment Modules
Commission Decision 2010/713/EU sets out the modules for procedures for assessing conformity and suitability for use of the interoperability constituents and ‘EC’ verification of subsystems. See also:
- Decision No 768/2008/EC on a common framework for the marketing of products
- Guide for the Application of TSIs: Annex 2 – Conformity assessment and 'EC' verification
RSSB contact: Vaibhav Puri, Head of Technical & Regulatory Policy
Amendments to TSIs
In May 2019 the following TSIs were amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/776:
- CCS (EU) No 2016/919
- ENE (EU) No 1301/2014
- INF (EU) No 1299/2014
- LOC&PAS (EU) No 1302/2014
- SRT (EU) No 1303/2014
- WAG (EU) No 321/2013
Errors in TSIs
Until 31 December 2020, RSSB maintained a TSI application issues log (available in the resources section below) for recording problems that were encountered when applying TSIs in GB. The contents of the TSI application issues log have been reproduced in the NTSNs issues and change request log (see National Technical Specification Notices). The TSI application issues log will no longer be updated.
