March 2023 Standards Update
Several changes to standards have been published in March 2023. These are new or updated standards and point releases for Operations, Infrastructure, Rolling Stock and Non RSSB Standards.
Download the March Standards briefing presentation.
Rolling Stock
In March two new Standards and two new Technical Notes have been published.
GMRT2466 Issue 5 – Railway Wheelsets
This updated Standard sets out the GB National Technical Rules (NTRs) and associated guidance supporting those in the National technical specification notices (NTSNs). It defines the application of GB (BS) and European (EN) standards and defines the unique GB wheel tread profiles and their operating limits.
Since its last update in 2018, RSSB has had sufficient feedback to incorporate learning from practical application into issue 5. The standard has also been updated to align it to the new legislative framework now in place since Britain left the EU, this includes updating all references from Technical Specification Notices (TSIs) to the appropriate NTSNs. In addition, new maximum flange width limits have been set and included.
RIS-2766-RST Issue 2 – Rail Industry Standard for Wheelsets
This revised Standard contains requirements, rationale and guidance on the design, manufacture, maintenance, inspection and recording of wheelsets. It includes the content of four prior wheelset guidance notes incorporating content dating back to the BR standard MT288.
In addition, references to Standards that have changed since issue 1 was published have been updated and the requirements on the control of wheel flats, has been updated to better align it with Network Rail Wheel Impact Load Detection limits. The definition of tolerance for new and reprofiled wheelsets has also been improved and the application of additional inspection or control for extended life axles has been clarified to avoid confusion around the '40-year-old' rule.
TN-101 Issue 1 - Train front-end visibility requirements and safe integration
This Technical Note supports and complements the content of GMRT2131 issue one by outlining the process of both establishing legal compliance and undertaking safe integration of rolling stock within the railway system regarding train visibility.
TN-102 Issue 1 - Corrosion of rail vehicles
This Technical Note supports and complements the existing standard RIS-2004-RST issue one Rail Vehicle Maintenance by providing guidance that enables maintenance and overhaul plans to be based on an adequate engineering analysis. This ensures that ageing rail vehicles retain their structural integrity to original design standards.
Watch the March 2023 updates to standards webinar here.
For more information and to see these technical notes, visit the RSSB Technical Notes page.
Infrastructure
One Infrastructure Standard has been updated in the March 2023 Standards catalogue which provides the requirements for the position of infrastructure and for designing and maintaining clearances. This is particularly important when considering the consequence of pantograph sway and the risk of collision of passengers and railway staff leaning out of windows.
Operations
In March, one Standard and three point release updates in the Rule Book.
GERT8000 TW1 Issue 18.1 - Preparation and movement of trains (electronic version only)
The changes remove the need for a driver to report to the signaller an abnormal brake application
that reduces speed but does not bring a train to a stand. Slight rewording has also been included to remove the use of the word ‘intervening’ so far as train protection systems are concerned.
GERT8000 TW4 Issue 1.1 - Preparation and working of freight trains (electronic version only)
This was amended following a change to what constitutes “high consequence dangerous Goods” in The Regulation concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) published in January 2023.
RS524 Issue 1.1 List of Dangerous Goods and their UN Numbers (electronic version only)
An update to United nations (UN) numbers was required following changes made in The Regulation
concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) published in January 2023.
The standard has been revised and minor changes have been introduced to remove all references to asset integrity and align it with the updated scope of TARG.