Vehicle/Structures System Interface Committee
23/04/2024
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).
"V/S SIC is responsible for the space between trains, the infrastructure and other trains. In effect, we make sure that there is enough space for trains to pass safely, but also that this space is used optimally and efficiently. Our work can support electrification, provide additional freight capacity and capability, create safer stepping for passengers boarding and leaving trains, and enable larger trains to run.
I’m looking for ideas for the V/S SIC future plan. We have had some good responses already. If you would like to contribute, please visit David's LinkedIn post."
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 (such as gauging, loading) 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.
The V/S SIC is currently focussing on:
- 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.
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Vehicle / Structures System Interface Committee Sub-GroupThe purpose of the Vehicle / Structures System Interface Committee Sub-group is to discuss, investigate, and progress work items that are allocated by the V/S SIC. For those items, V/S SIC Sub-group will report and recommend appropriate courses of action to the V/S SIC.
Membership
The group's membership is made up of the following industry categories:
- passenger train operators
- rolling stock owners and leasing companies
- freight and other non-passenger train operators
- infrastructure managers and owners
- suppliers and rolling stock manufacturers
- RSSB
- Department for Transport
- Office of Rail and Road.
Chair of committee: David Johnson, DGauge Ltd
RSSB main representative: Neil Gofton
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Committee members
Name Company Representing Status Alex Hastie Alstom Transport UK Ltd Suppliers Member Andrew Hicks Angel Trains Ltd Rolling Stock Owners Member Barry Tan RSSB RSSB Alternate Cherry Lam Office of Rail and Road Regulator Observer Cencen Gong Mott Macdonald Suppliers Alternate David Geering DG Rail Consultants Limited Independent Member David Johnson DGauge Ltd Independent Chair David Polhill Rail Partners Passenger Train Operators Member Dermot Kelly Office of Rail and Road Regulator Observer Helen Lobb RSSB RSSB IGM Member Jenny Irish Mott Macdonald Limited Suppliers Alternate Ian Glover Porterbrook Suppliers Member Karis Day Balfour Beatty Rail Limited Suppliers Member Mark Ward Network Rail Infrastructure Limited Infrastructure Managers Alternate Mick Bentley DB Cargo International Limited Non Passenger Train Operators Alternate Paul Gray RSSB RSSB Observer Paul Long Freightliner Non Passenger Train Operators Member Richard Thompson Balfour Beatty Rail Limited Suppliers Alternate Steve Cartledge D Gauge Suppliers Alternate Tim Fuller TEF Gauging Independent Member Zoe Boreham Alstom Transport UK Ltd Suppliers Member
