What is BS EN 16729‑2 about?  
BS EN 16729‑2 is the second part in the multi-series of the document that is applicable to the railway applications on infrastructure for non-destructive testing on rails in a track.
BS EN 16729‑2 specifies the requirement for testing principles and systems in order to produce comparable results with respect to the location and the characteristic of surface cracks.
BS EN 16729‑2 is applicable to the testing of rails installed in the track for detecting rail surface cracks. BS EN 16729‑2 applies to testing equipment in inspection trains or reprofiling machines and manual systems. 
Note 1: BS EN 16729‑2 is not aiming to give any guidelines for managing the result of eddy current rail testing.
Note 2: BS EN 16729‑2 does not define the requirements for vehicle acceptance.
Note 3: BS EN 16729‑2 is not concerned with the production testing of rails in a production plant.
Who is BS EN 16729‑2 for? 
BS EN 16729‑2 on non-destructive testing on rails in a track is relevant to:
- Railway management authorities
- Train operating companies (TOC)s
- Site supervisors  
- Inspection and testing department in railways 
- Machine manufacturers and operators
- Mechanical engineers
Why should you use BS EN 16729‑2?  
The purpose of eddy current testing on rails is to detect, quantify or classify rail defects in the material surface mainly due to rolling contact fatigue which can affect the structural integrity of the rails in a track.
BS EN 16729-2 provides the requirements for testing methods and systems that produce similar results in terms of the location and characteristics of surface cracks. Thus, BS EN 16729-2 allows for identification of defects that need attention. This defect review system can help prevent derailment, thus ensuring safety and reliability for the overall railway infrastructure.
